Turkish Tanker Struck Near Ukrainian Port of Izmail, Raising Black Sea Tensions
A Turkish-flagged oil tanker, teh ORINDA, was reportedly hit by a drone strike in the vicinity of the Port of Izmail, Ukraine, sparking a fire onboard. The vessel was carrying liquified petroleum gas at the time of the incident, which occurred as the crew was undergoing evacuation procedures.
According to initial reports, an unidentified missile or rocket impacted the ship during the evacuation. Fortunately, all sixteen crew members where able to disembark safely before the fire fully ignited, and no injuries have been reported. Ukrainian firefighters are currently working to contain the blaze, while Turkish authorities are closely monitoring the situation. A full assessment of the damage will be conducted once the fire is under control.
This latest incident marks at least the third time a Turkish-flagged vessel has been targeted in the Black Sea since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Earlier in 2024, a Turkish-operated cargo ship transporting Ukrainian grain to egypt was suspected to have been struck by a Russian missile approximately 30 miles off the Romanian coast. While no one was hurt, the ship sustained considerable damage.
In a separate incident last year, the Turkish-owned cargo vessel Şükrü Okan was intercepted and boarded by the Russian navy. Russian forces fired warning shots before deploying a helicopter to raid the ship, roughly 37 miles from Turkey‘s northwest coast. Russia asserted that the Şükrü Okan had failed to respond to a request to halt for inspection,and subsequently allowed it to continue its journey to Izmail.
Following that incident, Turkey’s Presidential Communications Directorate issued a strong statement to Russian officials, warning against further actions that could escalate tensions in the Black Sea. The recent attack on the ORINDA underscores the continued risks to maritime traffic in the region and the potential for further escalation.
