A Turkish-owned product tanker sailing from Ukraine to Egypt was hit by a Russian drone in the Black Sea after leaving a Ukrainian port, according to the Ukrainian Navy, which released video of the incident. The crew was reported uninjured and the vessel, although damaged, continued its voyage.
The 16,116 dwt product tanker Viva is Tuvalu-flagged and owned by Turkish shipping company Chemtankers Shipping. Built in 1999, the ship has been operated by the Turkish owner since 2023.
The Ukrainian Navy said the vessel was carrying sunflower oil. At the time of the strike, it was more than 20 miles from Ukraine’s coastline on Saturday, 13 December and was outside the range of the country’s air defences when it was engaged by a Russian drone. Ukraine underlined that the tanker was transiting within the internationally recognised corridor established for grain-carrying ships.
The drone hit the accommodation block. Images released after the attack show debris scattered over the superstructure and scorch marks on the exterior. There are 11 Turkish seafarers on board, and reports said none of them were injured. Some reports added that two drones were used, with a second impact recorded near the bow.
According to the Ukrainian Navy, it remained in contact with the master of Viva, while the maritime search and rescue service was reported to be on standby to provide support if required.
Ukrainian authorities condemned the strike, saying it breaches international maritime law and runs counter to the principle of freedom of navigation. They did not refer to recent Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea on shadow fleet tankers bound for Russia to transport oil.
The hit on Viva came after a series of Russian assaults on Ukrainian ports on Friday, 12 December. Additional video circulated online showing drone attacks on the Greater Odesa port complex and a strike on a Turkish RoPax vessel that caught fire.
Media reports said the RoPax ship, identified as Cenk T, was carrying generators. Containers visible on deck were marked with the name ASKA, described as a producer of diesel, gasoline and gas generators. The reports said the units were intended to help support Ukraine’s damaged power system and noted that several regions are facing wide-scale power cuts, often lasting 10 to 12 hours a day.
Besides the major fire on Cenk T, the Odesa Regional Military Administration reported that a second vessel in the port also caught fire. A worker employed by a private company at Odesa port was injured, and a container crane was damaged. Later the same day, Russia was reported to have attacked Odesa port again, damaging more port infrastructure and starting another fire that firefighters quickly extinguished.
Vanguard Tech warned yesterday that commercial ships calling at Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyl face an elevated risk from short-notice, high-intensity strikes directed at port facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously threatened to cut off Ukraine’s access to the sea following the recent strikes on shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea.
