The Turkish Ministry of Transport reported that the Gambia-flagged vessel Kairos exploded and caught fire on 28/11, about 28 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey's Kocaeli province. The ship was traveling from Egypt to Russia's Novorossiysk port and was not carrying cargo.

The fire on the Kairos in the Black Sea on 28/11. *Photo: Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs*

Shortly after, a second vessel, the Virat, also caught fire following an impact with "something" in a different part of the Black Sea, about 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.

The Turkish coast guard and rescue units subsequently rescued 25 individuals from the Kairos and 20 from the Virat.

Turkish maritime officials attributed the Kairos explosion to an "external impact" but offered no further details. While the exact cause remains unknown, officials have not ruled out the possibility of a sea mine or a deliberate attack. In recent years, several vessels have encountered drifting sea mines in the Black Sea.

The Virat after the incident in the Black Sea on 28/11. *Photo: Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs*

Awaiting further verification, Turkish maritime agencies are maintaining a high alert level. They are monitoring the situation to prevent new incidents and ensure the safety of vessels navigating the Bosphorus Strait.

Both Kairos and Virat are on international sanctions lists, accused of being part of a "shadow fleet" reportedly used by Moscow to circumvent restrictions on Russian crude oil.

According to OpenSanctions, the United States sanctioned the Virat in january, followed by the European Union (EU), Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The EU sanctioned the Kairos in july, with the United Kingdom and Switzerland following suit.

OpenSanctions stated: "The shadow fleet transporting oil continues to generate billions of USD in revenue for the Kremlin by circumventing sanctions, disguising operations under third-country flags, using sophisticated methods to conceal ownership, and posing a significant threat to the environment."

The Virat, built in 2018, previously sailed under the flags of Barbados, Comoros, Liberia, and Panama. The Kairos, built in 2002, had previously used the flags of Panama, Greece, and Liberia.

Russia has not yet commented on these incidents. Moscow has previously denied the existence of a "shadow fleet."

The Black Sea has remained a flashpoint of tension since february, with Russia and Ukraine frequently targeting each other's naval assets. Throughout the conflict, numerous sea mines have been dislodged and drifted, some even reaching Turkey's Bosphorus Strait.

By Huyen Le (AP, Euro News, RT)