Ukrainian naval drones hit two oil tankers from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' as they travelled through the Black Sea, Ukrainian officials have reported. Verified footage by the BBC captures the moment waterborne drones sped towards the vessels, detonating in a fiery explosion and sending black smoke into the air.
The tankers, named by Turkish authorities as the Kairos and Virat, were flagged to Gambia and were struck off the Turkish coast last Friday, with reports indicating that the Virat was targeted again on Saturday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from these incidents.
This latest escalation by Kyiv seeks to cripple Russia's oil revenues, crucial for funding its military operations in Ukraine. The Kairos and Virat are reportedly part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' a group of hundreds of tankers employed to evade Western sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Both ships are on a sanctions list as their ownership and insurance are often obscure, given their age and questionable legality. Sources indicate that the attacks involved Sea Baby drones, a type produced by Ukraine's security services (SBU).
Turkish authorities confirmed their role in the incident, releasing footage of their boats attempting to extinguish the fire on the Kairos. The implications of these attacks are significant, representing a stern warning that ships carrying Russian oil in the Black Sea may face direct assaults, rather than just sanctions.
In related news, a major consortium transporting oil from the Caspian Sea region announced that it has suspended loading operations in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following similar drone attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also revealed that a delegation led by top security official Rustem Umerov is heading to the U.S. to continue discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, following a shake-up in Ukraine’s negotiation team due to recent political developments.
The tankers, named by Turkish authorities as the Kairos and Virat, were flagged to Gambia and were struck off the Turkish coast last Friday, with reports indicating that the Virat was targeted again on Saturday. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from these incidents.
This latest escalation by Kyiv seeks to cripple Russia's oil revenues, crucial for funding its military operations in Ukraine. The Kairos and Virat are reportedly part of Russia's 'shadow fleet,' a group of hundreds of tankers employed to evade Western sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Both ships are on a sanctions list as their ownership and insurance are often obscure, given their age and questionable legality. Sources indicate that the attacks involved Sea Baby drones, a type produced by Ukraine's security services (SBU).
Turkish authorities confirmed their role in the incident, releasing footage of their boats attempting to extinguish the fire on the Kairos. The implications of these attacks are significant, representing a stern warning that ships carrying Russian oil in the Black Sea may face direct assaults, rather than just sanctions.
In related news, a major consortium transporting oil from the Caspian Sea region announced that it has suspended loading operations in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following similar drone attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also revealed that a delegation led by top security official Rustem Umerov is heading to the U.S. to continue discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, following a shake-up in Ukraine’s negotiation team due to recent political developments.
