Incident Overview

The Russian shadow fleet tanker Kairos ran aground off the coast of Bulgaria on Friday, according to reports from Bulgarian media. The vessel, flagged ‍in Gambia, was‍ approximately one⁢ mile offshore when the incident occurred,⁣ Bloomberg reported.

All ten crew members‌ were safely‌ evacuated‌ with assistance from the Maritime Administration and ⁢the Army. Rescue and technical operations are currently hampered by‍ a strong ‍storm ⁤in the area.

Previous attack and Cargo Status

The Kairos was previously targeted by Ukrainian⁤ naval drones ‍on⁤ November 28, alongside another tanker, the Virat, several tens ​of miles from the coast of Turkey.‍ Ukrainian media, citing sources within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), stated the attacks were part of a special operation utilizing modernized ⁣naval drones.

Notably, ‍the Kairos was not carrying oil products at ‌the time ⁢of the November drone ‌strike, minimizing the risk of environmental pollution.

Current Situation and Response

The Bulgarian maritime Administration reports the‍ situation is under control despite⁢ the challenging weather‌ conditions. Efforts to address the‌ grounding are ongoing, but ⁤adverse weather is substantially hindering​ progress.