Two sanctioned Russian-linked oil tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, caught fire in the Black Sea near the Turkish coast, but all crew members were safely rescued.

The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded about 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli province while traveling from Egypt to Russia, and the Virat was struck roughly 35 nautical miles away.

Turkish authorities are investigating, citing possible causes including external attacks or naval mines, and have raised maritime alerts to ensure regional shipping safety.

Both ships are part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” used to circumvent sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and have been sanctioned by the US, EU, UK, Switzerland, and Canada, Euro News has reported.

The incidents heighten concerns over environmental risks and safety in the already high-risk Black Sea region.