The Russian oil tanker ‘Virat’ was hit by an underwater unmanned drone launched by Ukraine in the Black Sea on Saturday. It is the same vessel that was hit by blasts on Friday as well. Russia’s so-called shadow fleet was hit by the drone, CNN reported, quoting an official in Ukraine’s security services (SBU). Ukraine has formally claimed the attack, it added.
The crew of the tanker had issued an open-frequency radio distress call reporting a “drone attack,” though they were actually referring to unmanned maritime drones.
In the video recording of the call, a crew member can be heard stating, “This is VIRAT. Help needed! Drone attack! Mayday!”
According to a statement posted on X, the Turkish transport ministry noted that “The Virat, which was previously said to have been attacked by unmanned maritime vehicles approximately 35 nautical miles off the Black Sea coastline, was attacked again by unmanned maritime vehicles early this morning”.
Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uralolu explained that investigators were examining signs of an outside strike, pointing out, “An external impact means the vessel was hit by a mine, a rocket, or a similar projectile, or perhaps by a drone, or by an unmanned underwater vehicle. These are the first things that come to mind.”
Despite sustaining minor damage, the Virat remains stable, and officials confirmed that all crew members are safe and in good health.
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