Tensions in the Black Sea are escalating after two Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tankers were struck off the coast of Turkey within just 24 hours. The tankers — Kairos and Virat — both erupted in flames following explosions that Turkish officials say show clear signs of external interference, raising urgent questions about whether Ukraine has expanded its sea-drone operations far beyond previous strike zones. The incidents have sparked international concern, as Turkey investigates whether naval drones, mines, or missiles were used in what may be a new phase of maritime warfare in the region. With sanctions-evading Russian oil tankers now repeatedly targeted, fears are growing that the conflict may be shifting deeper into contested waters.
00:00For the second time in less than 24 hours, a tanker tied to Russia's so-called shadow fleet has been struck off the coast of Turkey.
00:26And the big question now, is Ukraine expanding its sea drone campaign?
00:32We begin with the vessel at the center of today's headlines, the 115,000 DWT tanker VRAP.
00:42Turkish officials say the ship was attacked again this morning, just hours after a previous strike.
00:49The incident happened off Turkey's northern Black Sea coast, close enough for rescue teams to respond quickly, but alarming enough to raise fears of a deliberate, coordinated operation.
01:02And it wasn't alone.
01:04Late Friday, another tanker, the 150,000 DWT Kairos, also went up in flames.
01:11Both ships, Kairos and VRAP, were hit in rapid succession.
01:17And both are described by sanctions monitors as part of Russia's shadow fleet, vessels used to keep oil flowing despite international restrictions.
01:28Turkey's transport minister, Abdel Kadir Arrola Gulu, said crews first believed the Kairos had hit a mine.
01:35Then, word came of an explosion on the VRAP.
01:40And crucially, investigators now say both blasts show signs of external interference.
01:47That means a mine, a missile, a drone, or even an unmanned sea vessel, the type Ukraine has used repeatedly in the war.
01:57But there is still no confirmation of who was behind it.
02:05Ukraine has conducted multiple successful naval strikes on Russian military and commercial vessels, often using explosive sea drones.
02:15However, most of those operations happened in the northern Black Sea, nearer to Crimea.
02:22These attacks, much farther south, near Teraki, would mark a significant expansion of the battlefield.
02:29Despite the flames and heavy smoke, authorities say all crew members survived.
02:3625 sailors were safely evacuated from the Kairos, and all 20 aboard the VRAP are reported safe, though the VRAP's engine room was filled with smoke.
02:47Satellite tracking shows both ships had been operating across a wide region, from the Bosporus to Novo Rosysk to ports in China, Turkey, and India.
03:01And both have a record of switching off their automatic identification systems, a common tactic among vessels evading sanctions.
03:09The United States, the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, and Canada have all sanctioned the VRAP.
03:19The Kairos is also under European and British sanctions.
03:24Open Sanctions, a group that tracks illicit shipping networks, says this shadow fleet generates billions in revenue for the Kremlin.
03:33Using flag-hopping, shell companies, and obscured ownership to keep oil exports alive.
03:41So, what does this mean now?
03:44If these attacks are indeed part of a new Ukrainian strategy, they would strike at the heart of Russia's sentient-breaking oil trade.
03:53Not in Russian waters, but near a NATO member's coastline.
03:58That alone raises major diplomatic space.
04:03For now, Turkey is still investigating.
04:07Ukraine has not claimed responsibility.
04:11And Russia has yet to issue a full reaction.
04:15But what's clear is this.
04:18The Black Sea, already one of the world's most volatile maritime zones, may be entering a new phase of the conflict.
04:27One where commercial tankers become the next front line.
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