Distress Mayday calls were reported from the Black Sea after two Russia-owned tankers came under drone attack, the Turkish Ministry of Transport confirmed. The incident occurred about 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea coast. Audio from the tankers indicated urgent appeals for assistance as the vessels came under fire.
The first strike was recorded on Friday night, targeting the Russian tanker Virat. The attack, carried out using an unmanned aerial weapon, caused minor damage to the starboard side of the ship. Despite the impact, the vessel remained stable and all crew members were reported safe, according to the ministry.
A second attack followed on Saturday morning when the tanker Kairos was hit, triggering a major explosion and fire onboard. Firefighting teams and naval emergency units worked for several hours to contain the blaze. There were 27 crew members on the tanker at the time of the strike, of whom 25 were safely evacuated without injuries. The Kairos was travelling towards the Russian port of Novorossiysk and was struck 28 nautical miles from the Turkish coast.
Both Virat and Kairos are reported to be on the list of vessels sanctioned by Western nations following the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022. Following the incident, Ukraine publicly claimed responsibility, stating that the tankers generate significant financial resources for Russia to continue the conflict.
Oke luister, brate… die tanker VIRAT onder vlag van Gambia wordt weer eens gekust door Oekraïense Sea Baby drones, alsof het een K pop fanmeeting is maar dan met explosies.
En die SBU en Oekraïense marine?
Behaving like TikTok kids op suiker, maar dan met speelgoed dat eigenlijk… pic.twitter.com/KbjLHF6O5R— 👋🏻 Mariba 🌸 (@DragaMariba) November 29, 2025
The attack comes amid escalating hostilities. On November 24, Russia conducted large-scale strikes on Ukraine, deploying 22 missiles and 460 drones, resulting in the deaths of six civilians and leaving dozens injured. In retaliation, Kyiv launched drone strikes on Russia’s southern Rostov region, which left three people dead. Russian attacks have also severely damaged Kyiv’s port facilities, electricity grid and drinking water supply systems.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue as US President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to the conflict and has drawn up a 28-point peace proposal in an attempt to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv.