Russian Tanker Damaged in Suspected Sea Drone Attack in Kerch Strait, Russian Foreign Ministry Condemns Ukrainian “Terrorist Attack

On Saturday, Russia’s Federal Agency for Marine and River Transport reported that a Russian tanker had been damaged with a hole near the waterline on the starboard side. The agency believes the damage was caused by a sea drone attack. The tanker was transporting unspecified cargo at the time of the incident.

In response to the attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned what it sees as a Ukrainian “terrorist attack” on a civilian vessel in the Kerch Strait. The spokeswoman for the ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that there can be no justification for such actions and that the authors and perpetrators will be punished.

The attack on the Russian tanker comes after a similar incident in the Black Sea near Crimea late Friday. A source in Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU, told NBC News that it was responsible for the attack, which was conducted in a joint operation with the navy.

The Black Sea is becoming an increasingly important battleground in the war between Ukraine and Russia. As Kyiv’s naval capabilities grow, the region is becoming a strategic point of contention. It is unclear at this time what the repercussions of the attack will be, but it is certain that the incident will have a lasting impact on the region.