WW3 fears erupt as NATO country's ship explodes into flames after 'drone strike'

The tanker was reportedly hit by a drone (Image: denizhaber)

A Turkish-flagged tanker has been hit in a reported drone strike near the Port of Izmail in Ukraine. ORINDA was carrying liquified petroleum gas when it was hit during evacuation operations, causing a fire to break out. An unidentified missile or rocket smashed into the ship while 16 crew members were evacuating.

They managed to make it out safely before the blaze ingited and officials said there were no injuries. Ukrainian firefighters rushed to the scene, while Turkish authorities also monitor the situation. A more detailed assessment of the damage is expected once the fire is under control.

Russia has previously been accused of attacking Turkish ships. (Image: Getty)

This is not the first time a Turkish-flagged vessel has been attacked in the Black Sea since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

In 2024, Russia was suspected of conducing a missile strike on a Turkish-operated cargo ship carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt.

The incident occurred roughly 30 miles off Romania's coastline - outside national waters but within the country's exclusive maritime economic zone. There were no casualties, but the ship sustained significant damage.

The previous year, a Turkish-owned cargo vessel was attacked and raided by the Russian navy.

Warning shots with automatic weapons were fired at the Şükrü Okan before it was raided via helicopter roughly 37 miles off Turkey's northwest coast.

Russia claimed the ship failed to respond when it was asked to stop, so the navy inspected it before it sailed onto Izmail.

Turkey's Presidential Communications Directorate said: "After the intervention, our interlocutors in the Russian Federation were warned appropriately to avoid such attempts, which escalate tensions in the Black Sea."