Marine drone strikes Russia-linked oil tanker near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait Turkey's defence ministry said on Thursday it was closely monitoring risks posed in the Black Sea by drones, given their extensive use in the Russia-Ukraine warReutersA marine drone struck a crude oil tanker that had departed Russia, causing an explosion in the Black Sea near Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Thursday, Turkey's transportation minister said. The Black Sea is shared by Russia and Ukraine, which have been at war for more than four years, as well as other states. Turkey's defence ministry said on Thursday it was closely monitoring risks posed in the Black Sea by drones, given their extensive use in the Russia-Ukraine war. Risks included drones losing control or mobility, drifting towards the Turkish coast, it said. Late last year, shipping insurance rates rose after Ukrainian naval drones hit Russia-bound tankers in the Black Sea, prompting Moscow to threaten retaliation and NATO-member Turkey to urge calm.

Source: The Telegraph March 26, 2026 12:15 UTC