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A vessel believed to be transporting sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia was targeted in the Black Sea, according to Turkish officials on Tuesday, following the recent attack by Ukrainian naval drones on two oil tankers associated with Moscow’s “shadow fleet.”

A ship flying the Russian flag, the MIDVOLGA-2, was attacked approximately 130 kilometers from the Turkish coastline, as reported by the Maritime Affairs Directorate.

It did not seek help and was en route to the Turkish port of Sinop, according to an official statement on X.

The 13 individuals aboard the tanker remained unharmed. As reported by Turkish media outlet NTV, the assault was executed using a suicide drone.

The event occurred after Ukraine carried out drone strikes on two Russian ships, the Kairos and Virat, on Friday within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone. The crews of both vessels were saved due to the swift action of the coast guard and rescue teams.

The vessels are included in the list of entities facing international sanctions, after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and have been recognized by the OpenSanctions database as part of the Kremlin’s hidden fleet.

The phrase describes the numerous vintage freighters utilized by Moscow to bypass limitations on Russian crude oil.

Ukraine has conducted effective naval attacks on Russian vessels throughout Moscow’s conflict, mainly employing explosive-laden underwater drones. Nevertheless, previous Ukrainian operations have primarily focused on the northern Black Sea region.

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized Ukraine’s attacks on the Kaisar and Virat, describing it as a “concerning intensification” of the fighting.

We strongly reject these attacks, which endanger maritime safety, human lives, and the environment, particularly within our own exclusive area,” Erdoğan stated in a televised speech. “We are providing the required warnings to all involved parties concerning these issues.

Turkey, a NATO member, has kept strong relations with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the almost four-year conflict. It organized minor discussions between Ukraine and Russia earlier this year, but the only major development in Istanbul was the exchange of prisoners of war.