Russian Oil Tanker Disabled by Ukrainian Drone, Runs Aground Off Turkish Coast, Video

A Russian oil tanker linked to the so-called “shadow fleet” has run aground near the Turkish island of Bozcaada after sustaining critical damage in a Ukrainian drone attack, according to The Maritime on January 4.

The vessel, identified as the Qendil, grounded off the northern Aegean Sea close to the Dardanelles Strait, The Maritime reported. Tugboats Kurtarma-10 and Kurtarma-16 have been dispatched by Turkish authorities in an attempt to refloat the vessel and tow it into open waters.

According to The Maritime, the incident follows a December 19 strike by Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), reportedly operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

At the time of the strike, the tanker was not carrying cargo, which prevented environmental damage in the region.

The Qendil reportedly lost propulsion and has since remained adrift for nearly two weeks before grounding. Photos and videos of the vessel show significant damage to its structure, rendering it non-operational. There has been no official confirmation on the status of the crew, and it remains unclear whether the ship was abandoned following the attack.

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The reason for the delay in towing the ship remains unknown. One likely factor, according to The Maritime, is the vessel’s connection to Russia’s shadow fleet, which faces heavy international sanctions. These restrictions may have complicated access to ports or towing services in EU and NATO waters.

The Qendil is one of several vessels reportedly used by Russia to circumvent sanctions on oil exports. On December 14, Ukrainian drones—likely Sea Baby USVs developed in cooperation with the SBU—conducted a similar strike on another vessel.

According to The Maritime, such operations appear to target the mobility and operational capacity of these tankers rather than their fuel cargo, aiming to disable them without causing ecological harm.

Available footage from these strikes shows precision targeting that avoids critical cargo tanks, minimizing risk of spills.

Earlier, Spanish investigators reported that the Russian cargo ship Ursa Major, which sank off the coast of Cartagena in December 2024, had been transporting undeclared nuclear reactor components likely bound for North Korea. The vessel—linked to Russia’s shadow fleet—was operating under a false manifest and followed an unusual route through the Mediterranean before suffering unexplained damage and sinking during a rescue operation.

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