Shadow War in the Black Sea.. Drones Target Three Cargo Ships

Three cargo ships were targeted in a drone attack in the Black Sea off Turkey’s northern coast on Thursday, according to Turkish media reports.

According to the Turkish maritime agency Tribeca, the three vessels were sailing empty when they were attacked off the port of Sinop, as reported by the channels “Halk TV” and “Sözcü” and the newspaper “Türkiye.”

The vessels involved were the “James II,” sailing under the flag of Palau, and the “Altura” and “Vilora,” both flying the flag of Sierra Leone.

Tribeca stated that the Turkish coast guard intervened and that the crews of the ships were safe. No party has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Since the beginning of the Russian military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the two countries have regularly confronted each other in the Black Sea.

Tankers belonging to Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” which had been used to circumvent Western sanctions, were attacked by Ukraine in late 2025 in the Black Sea within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.

The vessel “Altura” had previously been targeted in a drone attack in late March, about 30 kilometers off the Turkish coast, while transporting Russian oil.