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Explosions Hit Two Sanctioned Russian Oil Tankers in Black Sea
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Two heavily sanctioned tankers transporting Russian oil were damaged in near-simultaneous explosions off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea, Bloomberg reported on November 28.
The vessels—Kairos and Virat—are part of a shadow fleet used by Moscow to keep crude exports moving amid sweeping international sanctions.
According to Bloomberg that the Kairos, a 900-foot Suezmax-class tanker, began taking on water following an explosion near the northern entrance to the Bosphorus Strait. At the same time, Turkish authorities confirmed a second incident involving the Virat, which was seen emitting thick smoke off the country’s Black Sea coastline.
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Turkey’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs described the events as resulting from an “external impact,” and a full-scale rescue operation was launched for both vessels. 25 crew members were evacuated from the Kairos due to fears the ship might sink.
Both vessels were reportedly empty at the time. The Kairos, sanctioned by the UK and European Union, was returning to Novorossiysk, Russia, after delivering Urals crude to Paradip, India. It sails under the flag of Gambia.
The Virat, sanctioned by both the US and EU, had been idle in the western Black Sea for most of 2025 after appearing on a US Treasury blacklist in January. Its flag is not listed in the Equasis maritime database.
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Bloomberg notes this is not the first time ships connected to Russian oil exports have experienced unexplained explosions in the region. Earlier this year, several similar incidents were reported, frequently involving tankers that had previously docked at Russian ports.
Floating mines remain a serious hazard in parts of the Black Sea, according to Spain’s navy, which has issued ongoing warnings since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine.
Despite these incidents the Bosphorus Strait—a key artery for transporting Russian oil—remains open to shipping traffic.
Earlier, it was reported that a sanctioned Russian oil tanker attempting to deliver fuel to Venezuela has been repeatedly forced to turn back after a US Navy destroyer positioned itself directly in its path.
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