Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Tankers attacked in Black Sea
Two big ships, Kairos and Virat, had explosions and fires in their engine rooms in the Black Sea near Turkey.
The Kairos was going to Russia and had 25 people on board, while the Virat had 20 people.
Both ships are on a list of ships that are not allowed to do business because of something called sanctions.
The ships might have hit something called a mine, which is like a floating bomb.
Everyone on the ships was saved, and the ships are being helped by other boats.
The cause of the explosions is not known yet, but there have been other incidents like this in the area before.
The Virat was attacked by unmanned vessels and suffered minor damage, but it is in a stable condition and the crew is safe.
Two tankers, Kairos and Virat, experienced explosions and fires in the Black Sea near Turkey’s Bosphorus strait.
Kairos was heading to Russia’s Novorossiysk port and reported an external impact causing a fire 28 nautical miles off the Turkish shore.
Virat was reportedly attacked by unmanned vessels some 35 miles offshore in the Black Sea, sustaining minor damage to its starboard side.
Both tankers are on a list of ships subject to sanctions imposed against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
All 25 crew members on Kairos and 20 on Virat were safely rescued, with heavy smoke detected in Kairos' engine room.
- Who
- Shipping agency Tribeca, Turkish authorities
- What
- Explosion and fire in the engine room of two tankers
- When
- Friday
- Where
- Black Sea, near Bosphorus strait
- Why
- Unknown, possibly due to an external impact or mine
- Vessel Names
- Kairos, Virat
- Flag
- Gambian (Kairos)
- Location
- Black Sea, near Bosphorus strait
- Incident Type
- Explosion and fire in engine room
- Date
- Friday
- Crew Members
- 25 (Kairos), 20 (Virat)
- Destination
- Russia’s Novorossiysk port (Kairos)
- Possible Cause
- External impact, possibly a mine
- Damage
- Minor damage to Virat's starboard side
- Rescue Efforts
- All crew members evacuated safely
Sources
Tanker hit by blast and fire north of Turkey’s Bosphorus strait, agency says
Blast hits sanctioned tanker off Turkey’s coast, rescue underway
Blasts hit sanctioned tankers off Turkey’s coast, rescues underway
Two tankers catch fire in the Black Sea after being struck, Turkish authorities report
Oil Tankers Hit By Blasts, Fire In Black Sea: Turkey
'Due to external causes': Russia-bound tankers hit by mystery blast off the coast of Turkey
Turkish official says Black Sea tankers may have been hit by mines, missiles or drones
Unmanned vessel attacked Russian shadow-fleet tanker in Black Sea, Turkey says
'Virat', Part Of Russia's Shadow Fleet, Hit By Unmanned Vessel In Black Sea
'Virat' Ablaze In Black Sea As Ukraine Hits Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker With Sea Baby Drones
"This Is Virat, Need Help": Russian Shadow Fleet Crew Before Drone Attack
Ukraine hit two ‘shadow fleet’ tankers with drones in Black Sea, security official says
Ukraine hit Russia's civilian tankers —Kairos and Virat in Black Sea-first footage emerges
Ukraine hits two Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers with drones in Black Sea