"The crew is safe, there were no injuries," stated a spokesperson for the Novorossiysk Marine Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) to TASS around 2 am local time. "The engine room was damaged, though not severely."
Two tugboats have reached the location to assist the vessel, and rescue crews are evaluating whether and where to tow the damaged tanker.
The tanker involved was not identified officially. Multiple Telegram channels reported the vessel as the Russian-registered oil carrier Sig, allegedly damaged by a Ukrainian maritime drone attack approximately 45 kilometers south of the Kerch Bridge. Traffic on the bridge was halted shortly before midnight due to a reported drone attack threat, according to local authorities.
Oleg Kryuchkov, adviser to the head of Crimea, refuted any connection between the "loud noises" heard by local residents and the bridge. He could not confirm reports of explosions, leading to speculation that the tanker might have been the target of the attack.
A radio message from Sig, requesting assistance, indicated that their engine room was flooded, but the ship had stabilized and required towing to reach the shore. The cause of the damage was not specified.
Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian sea drones attacked the Black Sea Fleet base at Novorossiysk. The Russian Defense Ministry also stated that Kiev attempted to sink civilian ships heading towards the Bosphorus on Tuesday and Wednesday, but their military escorts neutralized all attacking crafts.
In October 2022, a truck laden with explosives detonated on one of the spans, resulting in three fatalities and extensive damage requiring months of repair.