Russia says tanker hit in Ukrainian attack near Crimea

A Russian-flagged tanker has been hit in a Ukrainian attack in the Black Sea, Russia’s Tass state-run news agency has said, quoting maritime officials.

Tass said the vessel’s engine room was damaged in the overnight strike in the Kerch Strait. None of 11 crew was hurt.

Several Russian military bloggers said it was Russia’s Sig oil tanker that was attacked by a Ukrainian naval drone not far from the Crimean Bridge.

They say residents of nearby coastal villages heard a large explosion.

Ukraine has so far not publicly commented on the issue.

Naval drones, or sea drones, are small, unmanned vessels which operate on or below the water’s surface.

Tass quoted an official from Russia’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) as saying that two tugs had already arrived at the scene of the attack – just to the south of the Kerch Strait.

“The engine room was damaged. Not much, but it was damaged,” the official said.

The MRCC provided no further details about the tanker and its owners.

The Kerch Strait connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, separating Crimea – Ukraine’s peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014 – and Russia’s Taman peninsula.

Russian state-run media also reported that lighting on the Crimean Bridge – further north – were turned off and all traffic halted amid warnings of an imminent attack.

If the attack is confirmed, it would be the latest such drone attack in the area.

On Friday, a Russian naval ship suffered a serious breach in a Ukrainian naval drone strike near Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, Ukrainian security sources told the BBC.

Footage later emerged purportedly showing the drone hitting the Olenegorsky Gornyak large landing ship. Another unverified video showed a heavily listing vessel being towed to port.

But Russia’s defence ministry said it had repelled a Ukrainian attack on its naval base in Novorossiysk which involved two sea drones, but did not admit any damage.

Novorossiysk, a major hub for Russian exports, lies to the south-east of the Kerch Strait.

Clashes in the sea have increased in recent weeks, after Russia abandoned a major UN deal that enabled grain to be safely exported between Russia and Ukraine across the Black Sea.

Ukrainian ports have been pummelled by Russian drones and missiles, and Kyiv has threatened to retaliate.

In a separate development, Saudi Arabia is due to host talks later on Saturday on how to end the war in Ukraine.

Invitations have been sent to about 30 countries – but not Russia – to attend the meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.