Ukrainian forces used naval drones to successfully strike two sanctioned oil tankers belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” as they were heading to a Russian port to load oil. This operation is part of Kyiv’s strategy to increase pressure on Russia’s vital oil industry.
💥 Details of the Attack
- Targets: The two oil tankers were identified as the Kairos and the Virat.
- Status of Tankers: They were empty and sailing to Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea oil terminal.
- Weaponry: Naval drones—uncrewed speed boats packed with explosives—were used in the attacks.
- Damage: The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) official stated that both tankers sustained “critical damage and were effectively taken out of service,” which is expected to deal a significant blow to Russian oil transportation.
- The Kairos (274 meters long) suffered an explosion and caught fire on Friday while en route from Egypt to Russia, according to Turkey’s Transport Ministry.
- The Virat was reportedly struck twice—once on Friday and again on Saturday—sustaining minor damage above the waterline in the second attack but remaining in stable condition.
- Sanctions: Both the Kairos and Virat are on a list of ships subject to sanctions imposed against Russia.
🌊 Broader Context and Regional Impact
- Shadow Fleet: Ukraine has repeatedly urged the West to take action against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” which consists of often aging, unregulated vessels used by Moscow to bypass Western sanctions and export oil to fund its war efforts.
- Oil Industry Pressure: This strike represents a new type of attack, following months of Ukrainian long-range aerial drone strikes on Russian oil refineries far behind the front lines.
- Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC): Separately, a Ukrainian naval drone attack also significantly damaged a mooring at Russia’s Black Sea terminal, causing the CPC—which handles more than 1% of global oil, primarily from Kazakhstan—to halt operations. Kazakhstan called this attack unacceptable.
- Turkey’s Concern: Turkey voiced concern over the attacks, stating they occurred in its Exclusive Economic Zone and posed serious safety risks. Ankara is in contact with relevant parties to prevent the war from spreading in the Black Sea.