A massive oil tanker from Russia's clandestine "shadow fleet" has become a drifting hazard in NATO waters after being struck by a Ukrainian maritime drone. The 149,000-tonne vessel, named Kairos, is now under surveillance off the coast of Bulgaria, posing a complex maritime and environmental challenge.
A Mysterious Drift Into NATO Territory
The Gambian-flagged tanker, measuring 899 feet long, was attacked by a Ukrainian Sea Baby drone off the coast of Turkey on Saturday, November 29. Initially taken under tow by the Turkish vessel Timur Bey, the rescue operation was abruptly abandoned in what officials described as a "deeply mysterious" move. Left without power, the Kairos drifted aimlessly across the Black Sea like a phantom vessel.
By Friday, December 6, the giant ship had entered Bulgaria's territorial waters, appearing near the resort town of Ahtopol. It failed to respond to any radio contact, prompting a swift response from Bulgarian border guards, naval forces, and the Maritime Administration. Local residents captured videos of the looming hulk approximately 900 yards from shore.
Desperate Battle Against the Elements
As a severe winter storm rolled in, the tanker's bow was seen rising and dropping violently in 13-foot waves. A Bulgarian Navy helicopter was dispatched, and an emergency maritime centre was activated. Authorities confirmed that as many as 10 crew members remained on board, all wearing protective gear, who eventually requested evacuation.
While there was "no immediate threat to life," sea conditions were so brutal that rescue teams had to halt evacuation attempts. In a desperate effort to halt its drift, the crew managed to drop the starboard anchor and were working to release a second anchor as the vessel pitched dangerously.
The Shadow Fleet and Environmental Fears
The Kairos is a key part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a collection of dozens of tankers used to transport Kremlin oil globally while evading Western sanctions. Maritime trackers believe the ship is owned through Chinese-linked intermediaries, with its Gambian registration considered fictitious.
It was heading empty toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk when the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) targeted it, sparking a fire that initially forced Turkey to evacuate 25 crewmembers. The SBU has claimed responsibility for sabotaging two shadow-fleet tankers, the Kairos and the Virat, in the Black Sea.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the vessel began a new tow on Wednesday, December 3, destined for Turkish shipyards, before inexplicably turning north towards Bulgaria. The whereabouts of the towing vessel remain unknown.
Environmental groups have warned that a giant oil tanker stranded so close to Bulgaria's tourist coastline is a "nightmare scenario." However, Bulgarian officials have stated there is "no immediate environmental danger." The Maritime Administration has placed the Kairos under round-the-clock surveillance, though rough seas continue to delay efforts to stabilise the tanker or extract the remaining crew.
