On January 8, 2026, the Palau-flagged oil tanker ELBUS, which is linked to the Russian shadow fleet, was struck by a drone while en route to Novorossiysk, Russia. The incident occurred approximately 30 miles off the coast of Türkiye near Kastamonu.
Damage was reported near the engine room of the vessel; however, there were no injuries or pollution resulting from the attack. Following the incident, the tanker was diverted to the Turkish port of İnebolu for inspection.
This event marks the fifth incident targeting Russia-bound tankers since November 2025.
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