Smoke rose from two tankers in the Black Sea off Türkiye on November 28, 2025. The Kairos and the Virat, both on Russia sanctions lists, were hit by explosions within a short time of each other. Turkish authorities said fires broke out on both ships, Reuters reported. Bloomberg described the blasts as near-simultaneous.
The Kairos, a 274-meter tanker flying the Gambian flag, was sailing empty from Egypt to the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it was struck 28 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport said an explosion and a fire occurred on board. It put the cause down to an “external impact.” Reports suggested the ship may have hit a mine. Bloomberg said it began taking on water, and the vessel was at risk of sinking.
Two high-speed rescue boats, a tug and an emergency vessel were sent out. All 25 crew were evacuated. Heavy smoke from a fire in the engine room had filled the ship, but the crew were reported to be in satisfactory condition.
The Virat was damaged about 35 nautical miles off the coast, a little farther east. It had 20 people aboard, all in satisfactory condition after rescue units arrived. Some information pointed to an attack by maritime drones. Bloomberg reported the vessel had been seen pouring out thick smoke.
Who owned what
The two tankers are among the vessels sanctioned after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. United24 Media, citing Bloomberg, said the Kairos is sanctioned by the UK and the European Union. It was heading back to Novorossiysk after delivering Urals crude to Paradip, India. The Virat is sanctioned by the US and the EU. It had been idle in the western Black Sea for most of 2025, since the US Treasury blacklisted it in January. Its flag does not appear in the Equasis maritime database.
Bloomberg noted that other ships linked to Russian oil exports have had unexplained explosions this year, often tankers that had earlier called at Russian ports. Floating mines are also a hazard in parts of the Black Sea, and Spain’s navy has issued warnings since the war began. Traffic through the Bosphorus Strait, a major route for Russian oil, stayed open.
The shadow fleet
The term covers tankers, bulk carriers, gas carriers and other large ships that third countries or private firms formally own but Russia effectively controls. Many sail under flags of convenience such as Gambia, Liberia and Panama, which hides the Russian link. Roughly one in six tankers worldwide, about 17% of all active tankers, is estimated to belong to it. The European Union is weighing new measures against those who help the fleet operate.
Sources
- Two tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet catch fire near Bosporus following explosions
- Explosions Hit Two Sanctioned Russian Oil Tankers in Black Sea
Sources
- Two tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet catch fire near Bosporus…
- Blasts hit sanctioned tankers off Turkey's coast, rescues underway
