The oil tanker Qendil, part of Russia’s "shadow fleet," ran aground off Turkey’s Bozcaada island on Sunday while traveling from Alia?a to Yalova. The Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety reported that the 249-meter-long vessel was empty when it stranded, prompting the urgent deployment of the tugboats KURTARMA-10 and KURTARMA-16 for assistance.
This incident follows a recent drone attack involving the Oman-flagged Qendil, marking the first time Ukraine targeted a Russian shadow fleet vessel with drones at such a distance from its borders. The attack occurred in international waters over 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine around December 19, while the tanker was located off Libya’s coast en route to the Russian port of Ust Luga in the Baltic Sea from the Indian port of Sikka.
The Qendil is a key component of Russia’s shadow fleet, consisting of aging tankers with unclear ownership and questionable insurance, which enables continued oil exports and financing of its war amidst Western sanctions. Ukraine has intensified its campaign against Russian oil infrastructure in recent months, targeting refineries and sea-based assets, underscoring the ongoing dangers confronting both shadow fleet vessels and commercial shipping amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
