Two Russian shadow fleet tankers hit by mysterious blasts off Türkiye’s coast — both incidents in same area (MAP)

Two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet suffered explosions off Türkiye’s coast on 28 November 2025, according to Bloomberg. Both vessels were empty at the time, and the cause of the near-simultaneous blasts remains unknown as maritime authorities launched rescue operations.

Russia relies on a “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers — many with obscure ownership and registered under flag‑of‑convenience jurisdictions — to evade G7 and EU sanctions and keep its oil exports flowing.

Two Russian-linked tankers explode in Black Sea near Türkiye

Bloomberg reported that two heavily sanctioned tankers carrying Russian oil suffered near-simultaneous blasts off Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. The first vessel, the Kairos, caught fire and began taking on water, according to a local port agent and confirmed by Türkiye’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs. Shortly after, the Virat was also damaged and seen billowing smoke nearby.

• The Kairos is a 274‑meter Suezmax tanker that had just returned from Paradip, India — where it delivered a cargo of Russia’s flagship Urals crude — and was en route back to the port of Novorossiysk to reload when it was struck. The ship sails under the Gambian flag and is sanctioned by both the UK and the EU.
• Meanwhile, the Virat — a 250‑meter tanker, also Gambian‑flagged and blacklisted by the US and the EU — had been idling in the western Black Sea for most of 2025 after being designated by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control on 10 January, Bloomberg reports.

Turkish authorities stated on X that the Kairos was empty and 28 miles off the Turkish coast when it "caught fire due to an external impact." All 25 crew members on board were reported in good condition. Rescue units were dispatched to assist both ships.

Attacks on Russian ports and sea mine threat

At least one unnamed Russian oil tanker was recently damaged in recent Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Black Sea ports in Novorossiysk and Tuapse, and the Russian-controlled oil terminal in occupied Feodosiia. The attacks severely damaged the Feodosiia facility and disrupted oil exports from Novorossiysk for several days. 

The Spanish navy has earlier warned of floating mines in the Black Sea since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Bloomberg says both ship managers, as listed in the Equasis international database, did not respond to requests for comment. Vessel tracking data cited by Bloomberg confirmed that neither ship carried cargo at the time of the explosions.

Despite the twin incidents, the Bosphorus Strait — a key artery for Russian oil exports — remains open to traffic.