A Greek-flagged oil tanker sustained damage in a suspected drone strike while it was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea, Greek officials reported.
The Greek Ministry of Shipping confirmed that the incident occurred early Saturday. Although the attack caused material damage to the vessel, all 24 crew members remained safe, and the ship’s ability to sail was not compromised.
The tanker, named Maran Homer and chartered by the American oil company Chevron, had embarked on its journey from Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Its itinerary included a stop at the Black Sea port before continuing to Istanbul. Greek government sources and the tanker’s operating company stated that the vessel was hit by either a missile or a drone just before it was set to load Kazakh oil.
Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, announced that Greece intends to file a “strong complaint” against the nation responsible for the attack, though he withheld specific details. He later implicated Ukraine, citing their frequent military activities in the Black Sea region.
“It is unacceptable and highly dangerous for vessels flying the Greek flag, as well as those involving Greek sailors and interests, to be targeted,” Kikilias expressed on state broadcaster ERT.
He suggested the attack might be linked to the recent U.S. decision to temporarily relax certain sanctions on Russian oil exports, a move prompted by the market instability following the conflict in Iran.
The war has also affected Greece’s massive shipping industry, with dozens of Greek-flagged or Greek-owned vessels currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.
