A Greek-owned tanker came under attack early Saturday morning in the Black Sea, approximately 14 nautical miles off the Russian port of Novorossiysk, Greek Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced. There were no casualties.
Speaking to national broadcaster ERT, Kikilias said the Greek-flagged vessel, chartered by Chevron and crewed by 24 sailors — 10 of them Greek nationals — sustained damage to its starboard side. The strike is believed to have been carried out by a small missile or drone.
The minister said he had already briefed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, and that Greece would lodge a formal protest and raise the matter at the European level.
“Greek seafarers and Greek shipping do their job and should be kept out of political disputes and, even more so, out of armed conflicts,” Kikilias said, describing the targeting of Greek-flagged vessels and Greek sailors as “unacceptable and extremely dangerous.”
The minister suggested the incident may be linked to tensions in the region and to the recent decision by Washington to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil currently in transit — a move he implied may have made Greek vessels operating in the area a target.
Source: tovima.com
