Explosions Shake Russian Tankers in Black Sea Near Bosphorus

Two Russian tankers, Kairos and Virat, from Russia's shadow fleet, suffered explosions near Turkey's Bosphorus strait in the Black Sea, sparking fires. Both ships were part of a list under sanctions. Turkish authorities conducted rescue operations, successfully rescuing all crew members. The ongoing shipping continues through the strait.

On Friday, two blasts rocked tankers from Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea near Turkey's Bosphorus strait, igniting fires on both vessels. Turkish authorities quickly intervened, deploying rescue operations for all crew members aboard.

The 274-meter-long tanker Kairos, which was journeying from Egypt to Russia, experienced an explosion followed by a fire, according to Turkey's Transport Ministry. Rescue boats swiftly responded to the incident 28 nautical miles off the Turkish coast, ensuring the safety of all 25 crew members. A second tanker, Virat, reportedly faced a similar fate further east, where rescue teams were dispatched to manage the situation.

Both tankers were noted on a sanction list against Russia, post its 2022 full-scale Ukraine invasion. Shipping traffic along the Bosphorus strait remained unaffected, though reports suggest Kairos may have encountered a drifting mine, posing a potential sinking threat.

(With inputs from agencies.)