In the early hours of Monday, a mass Russian drone attack damaged the Turkish-flagged tanker Orinda. The tanker, carrying liquified natural gas (LNG), was docked at the Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail. The ship belongs to Turkey’s Lokai Enerji-group, which lists the Russian firm Lukoil among its partners.
“Geran” drones hit LNG tanker, forcing evacuations in Romania
On board the Orinda, which carried roughly 4,000 tonnes of LNG, all 16 crew members were safely evacuated after the vessel caught fire, Turkish authorities confirmed. According to Mash – a Kremlin-linked Telegram channel with ties to Russian security services – three “Geran” drones struck the Orinda, igniting part of its LNG cargo. The outlet said the tanker had been moored in Izmail for two days awaiting unloading after arriving from Romania, and claimed the LNG was “presumably American.” A resident posted footage of the burning gas as Romanian border police evacuated residents from the neighboring villages of Plauru and Cătălkoy, located some 300-500 meters (985-1,640 feet) from the blazing tanker, citing explosion risks.
Mash noted that the strike on the tanker occurred within the wider overnight barrage in which Russia launched 128 drones and two “Iskander” missiles across Ukraine, including about 28 “Geran” drones directed at Odesa region alone, where port and energy infrastructure – as well as several civilian vessels – were hit, according to Odesa regional governor Oleg Kiper.
Strategic target? Turkish firm linked to Lukoil
Owned since 2023 by Orinda Denizcilik A.Ş., a subsidiary of Turkish energy conglomerate Lokai Enerji, the tanker’s owners specialize in LNG trading and count Lukoil, TotalEnergies, and Shell among their partners. Analysts say the damage to the vessel signals Moscow’s continued push to hit logistics and energy routes tied to Ukraine and partner states.
Why the use of a Turkish-flagged vessel matters
The incident comes at a time when Ukraine is relying on Black Sea and Danube shipping routes for fuel and energy supplies. Targeting a Turkish-flag tanker underscores that Moscow may be willing to hit third-party vessels linked to Ukraine’s supply chain, raising questions over maritime risk in the region.