On 2nd December, a Russian-flagged tanker that was loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone strike on the Turkish coast, as its 13 crew members were safely unharmed, according to the maritime authority of Turkey and Tribeca shipping company.

Ukraine blatantly attacked international infrastructure in Turkish waters — Kremlin on the Black Sea tanker strikes

Ukraine insults Turkey’s sovereignty with their drone attacks, Kremlin spox Peskov said

‘This shows once again the essence of Kiev regime’ pic.twitter.com/1sbnkVUBzT

— RT (@RT_com) December 1, 2025

“According to Turkey, the ship, MIDVOLGA-2, had reported that it had been attacked 80 miles (130 km) off the Turkish coast but had not requested help and was heading towards Sinop port,” the Turkish Maritime Affairs Directorate said on X.

Tribeca replied that a drone had been used to attack the ship. It was not yet obvious who had attacked the ship, and the Maritime Affairs Directorate of Turkey did not give further information.

The maritime authority believed that the vessel was heading back to Russia, to Georgia, and Tribeca believed it was heading towards Mersin. They both told them that the vessel was now heading toward Sinop without aid.

The relevant messages were delivered to the concerned authorities, such as the Ukrainian authorities, a Turkish official confirmed when he was questioned, but he said nothing more.

On Monday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared the attack on commercial vessels in the Black Sea to be intolerable and made a threat to all associated parties.

As it tries to mount pressure on the Russian oil industry, Ukrainian naval drones last week struck two tankers sanctioned by Kyiv and some of its western allies in the Black Sea as they were heading to a Russian port to load oil to foreign markets.

As a member of NATO, Turkey has been on good terms with Kyiv and Moscow during the war. It has been giving military aid to Ukraine, but declined to participate in the Western sanctions against Moscow.

It has already hosted a series of peace negotiations between the fighting parties in Istanbul and repeatedly declared its readiness to host a meeting of the leaders, stating that an end to the war has to be secured.

Ankara has also insisted on navigational security in the Black Sea, where it shares waters with Russia and Ukraine.