In a significant escalation of its maritime campaign, Ukraine has successfully targeted two Russian oil tankers using naval drones in the Black Sea. The attack represents Kyiv's latest effort to disrupt Moscow's oil export capabilities and undermine the financing of Russia's war operations.
Details of the Naval Drone Attack
The Security Service of Ukraine confirmed to Reuters that their forces struck two empty oil tankers identified as the Kairos and Virat. Both vessels were sailing toward Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea oil terminal, when the attack occurred. According to the Ukrainian official, the tankers were scheduled to load oil destined for international markets.
Video footage shared by Ukrainian security services showed naval drones speeding toward the massive tankers followed by powerful explosions that ignited fires on both vessels. Reuters could not independently verify the identity of the tankers in the clips or the exact location and date of the footage.
The Ukrainian official stated in a written declaration that both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. This development is expected to deal a substantial blow to Russian oil transportation networks.
Expanding Ukrainian Strategy Against Russian Oil Infrastructure
This maritime attack marks a strategic expansion of Ukraine's campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. For months, Ukraine has primarily used long-range aerial drones to strike oil refineries deep behind front lines. The successful targeting of tankers at sea demonstrates Kyiv's growing capability to threaten Russian shipping operations.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Western nations to take concrete action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" - hundreds of often aging, unregulated vessels that emerged after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This fleet has enabled Moscow to bypass Western sanctions designed to reduce Russian oil revenues that fund the war effort.
Regional Impact and International Response
The attack had immediate consequences for regional oil exports. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles more than 1% of global oil supplies, announced it halted operations after a mooring at Russia's Black Sea terminal suffered significant damage from a separate Ukrainian naval drone attack. This pipeline system primarily exports oil from Kazakhstan via Russia and the Black Sea terminal.
Kazakhstan responded to the attack by calling it "unacceptable", highlighting the broader regional implications of the conflict spreading to energy infrastructure.
Turkey expressed serious concern over the incidents, noting they occurred within its Exclusive Economic Zone and posed substantial safety risks. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli stated that Ankara is engaging with relevant parties to prevent the war from expanding in the Black Sea region and to protect Turkey's economic interests.
Damage Assessment and Vessel Status
According to Turkey's Transport Ministry, the 274-meter-long tanker Kairos experienced an explosion and caught fire on Friday while traveling from Egypt to Russia. Rescue boats evacuated the crew while firefighting efforts continued.
The Virat was reportedly struck approximately 35 nautical miles offshore, further east in the Black Sea. The ministry noted this vessel was attacked again on Saturday by unmanned vessels, sustaining minor damage to its starboard side above the waterline. Officials confirmed the Virat remained in stable condition with its crew in good health.
Both targeted vessels appear on sanctions lists imposed against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to LSEG data. The successful attack demonstrates Ukraine's evolving naval capabilities and determination to target Russia's economic lifelines, even as the conflict approaches its third year.
