Turkish-managed oil tanker attacked by maritime drone near the Bosphorus

On March 26, 2026, the oil tanker Altura, which is under Turkish management, was struck by a maritime drone approximately 15 miles from the Bosphorus Strait. The vessel had departed from the Russian port of Novorossiysk carrying roughly 140,000 tons of crude oil. Reports indicate that the attack caused damage to the ship's deck, bridge, and engine room, with water reportedly entering the engine area. While one source identified the ship as carrying a foreign flag, another specifically named it the Altura under a Turkish flag. The vessel has been identified in various reports as part of the so-called shadow fleet involved in transporting Russian oil, which is currently subject to European Union sanctions. In response to the incident, Turkish authorities dispatched rescue vessels to the scene. The total extent of the environmental or structural damage is still being assessed.