Russian shadow-fleet tanker damaged in Black Sea blast; crew safely evacuated PHOTO

A tanker operating within Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” sustained damage in the Black Sea after a suspected mine explosion north of Türkiye’s coast, local port officials said.

Türkiye’s Directorate General of Maritime Affairs confirmed that a fire broke out on board the Suezmax-class tanker Kairos following an external impact, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Rescue vessels were deployed to evacuate all 25 crew members, and the ship was not carrying cargo at the time.

Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure told local media that all personnel were safely retrieved: “The 25 crew members on board were successfully evacuated from the sea by the KEGM-10 rescue boat.”

The Kairos is sanctioned by the UK and EU for transporting Russian crude but remains outside US sanctions. Its previous voyage took it from Novorossiysk to Paradip, India, carrying Urals-grade oil.

Vessel-tracking data indicate the tanker was returning to a Russian port to load a new shipment before the incident occurred.

By Aghakazim Guliyev