Ukraine has no connection to the incident with the russian tanker Midvolga-2, which was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea on Tuesday, December 2.
This was stated by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Heorhii Tykhyi.
"Ukraine has no connection to this incident, and we officially refute any such accusations from russian propaganda," Tykhyi wrote on the social network X (Twitter).
He also noted that the attack on the vessel occurred in Turkey's exclusive economic zone. This suggests that the attack could have been staged, since the tanker's alleged route from russia to Georgia through Turkish waters makes no sense.
Earlier today, the Turkish publication Dunya reported, citing the Turkish General Directorate of the Navy, that the Russian tanker Midvolga-2 was attacked about 180 kilometers off the country's coast. The 13 crew members on board were not injured and did not call for help. The vessel was sailing from russia to Georgia with a cargo of sunflowerseed oil.
Later, russian media reported, citing the russian Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport, that the tanker Midvolga-2 reported the attack at around 08:00 am. The vessel sustained minor damage and changed course towards the Turkish port of Sinop after the attack.
The tanker Midvolga-2 (IMO: 9735139) was built in 2014. The vessel sails under the russian flag. The vessel is owned by the Srednevolzhskaya Shipping Company, registered in Moscow.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the tankers Kairos and Virat were attacked in the Black Sea on November 29. Both vessels were part of russia's so-called "shadow fleet," with which it exports oil to circumvent sanctions.
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