The Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs reported today that the Midvolga 2 cargo ship was attacked approximately 150 km off Turkey's coast. The vessel was transporting sunflower oil from Russia to Georgia at the time of the incident. "The 13 crew members on board are in good health and have not requested assistance. The ship is proceeding independently to Sinop port," the agency stated.
Russian authorities have not yet commented on the information.
A Ukrainian security source claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked the Midvolga 2 with an unmanned surface vehicle. This action is part of a campaign targeting "Russia's secret oil fleet".
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The Midvolga 2 off Eceabat, Turkey, 8/2022. Photo: Vessel Finder |
Maritime data tracking website VesselFinder indicates the Midvolga 2 is a 140 m Russian-flagged vessel. Its last updated position, 11 days ago, showed the ship traveling from Samsun port in Turkey to Rostov-on-Don city in Russia.
This incident marks the third attack on a cargo ship in the Black Sea over the past week, highlighting escalating tensions in the region.
On 28/11, the Turkish Ministry of Transport reported that the Gambian-flagged Kairos exploded and caught fire about 52 km off Turkey's coast. The Virat, also Gambian-flagged, subsequently caught fire in a different Black Sea area, approximately 65 km off the Turkish coast.
Turkish officials reported that the Virat was attacked again by an unmanned surface vehicle in the early morning of 29/11, sustaining minor damage to its starboard side, above the waterline.
Both the Kairos and Virat are on an international sanctions list, accused of belonging to Russia's "shadow fleet" – vessels allegedly used to circumvent crude oil sanctions. Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of operating a "shadow fleet".
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Location of Sinop port, Turkey. Graphic: Geopolitical Monitor |
The Black Sea has been a hotspot of tension since February, with Russia and Ukraine repeatedly attacking each other's naval assets.
On 1/12, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the attacks on cargo ships as a concerning escalation. "We cannot accept attacks that threaten maritime safety, the environment, and human lives in Turkey's exclusive economic zone," he stated.
Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, RIA Novosti)
