Listen to the article
Ukraine’s domestically produced Sea Baby naval drones struck two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea on Friday, according to an official from Ukraine’s security services who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the operations.
The targeted vessels, Kairos and Virat, are reportedly part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to evade international sanctions. The attacks occurred in quick succession off Turkey’s Black Sea coast late Friday afternoon, prompting rescue operations by the Turkish coast guard. Crew members on both vessels were reported safe.
The Ukrainian security official provided video footage purporting to show the destruction of the two tankers at sea. According to the official, the Sea Baby naval drones disabled vessels capable of transporting oil worth almost $70 million, significantly hampering Russia’s efforts to circumvent international sanctions.
“Ukrainian intelligence continues to take active steps to curtail Russia’s financial capabilities to wage war against Ukraine,” the official stated.
Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed the incidents took place within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone. While he initially suggested the tankers might have been struck by mines, missiles, marine vessels, or drones, he later revealed that the captain of the Virat had issued a distress call specifically mentioning “a drone attack.”
The Gambian-flagged Kairos caught fire during the attack, with flames continuing to burn in enclosed areas of the vessel on Saturday. All 25 crew members were safely evacuated. The Virat did not catch fire, though authorities had earlier reported a blaze in its engine room. No evacuation request was made for this vessel.
Both tankers are listed in the OpenSanctions database, which tracks entities involved in sanctions evasion. The database describes them as part of a shadow fleet of ships used to circumvent sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The Virat was sanctioned by the United States in January this year, with the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Canada following suit. The Kairos faced similar sanctions, with the EU blacklisting it in July, followed by the UK and Switzerland.
“The shadow tanker fleet continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners and poses significant environmental threats,” OpenSanctions states in its entry on the Kairos.
The Virat, built in 2018, has previously sailed under the flags of Barbados, Comoros, Liberia, and Panama, employing what OpenSanctions describes as “irregular and high-risk shipping practices.” The Kairos, constructed in 2002, formerly operated under Panamanian, Greek, and Liberian flags.
According to maritime tracking data, the Virat was anchored north of the Bosphorus on November 4, not far from its position during the attack. The Kairos was last tracked on November 26 south of the Dardanelles Strait, which connects the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
Ukraine has demonstrated increasing capability in naval warfare throughout the conflict, particularly through its deployment of explosives-packed marine drones. However, until now, Ukrainian naval operations had largely been confined to the northern Black Sea, making these strikes further south near Turkish waters a significant expansion of their operational range.
The attacks represent the latest in Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare strategy against Russia’s economic interests. By targeting vessels associated with Russia’s sanctions-evasion network, Ukraine aims to reduce Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations through oil exports.
Turkish authorities have indicated they are in contact with relevant counterparts to prevent similar incidents in the future and to ensure navigational safety in the region, though they did not specify which countries they were communicating with or what preventative measures might be implemented.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
7 Comments
Impressive use of Ukraine’s homemade naval drones to disrupt Russia’s sanctions-evading oil trade. This highlights the country’s ingenuity in finding creative ways to counter Moscow’s aggression.
Targeting Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea is a smart move by Ukraine. Disrupting Moscow’s ability to export energy and generate revenue is a crucial part of the economic war against the invasion.
This is an interesting tactic by Ukraine, using naval drones to strike at Russia’s maritime oil trade. It demonstrates the country’s resourcefulness in finding new ways to undermine the Kremlin’s war machine.
Ukraine continues to impress with its ability to innovate and adapt its military capabilities. Disabling Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea is a clever move to hamper Moscow’s ability to circumvent sanctions.
Absolutely, Ukraine is proving very adept at finding creative solutions to counter Russia’s military might. Disrupting the Kremlin’s oil exports is a smart strategy to weaken its financial resources.
It’s good to see Ukraine taking the fight to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ and targeting its oil revenue, which funds the Kremlin’s invasion. Every disruption to Russia’s finances helps weaken its military capabilities.
Absolutely, every bit of damage done to Russia’s oil and gas trade is a win for Ukraine. The more Moscow’s financial lifelines are cut, the harder it becomes to sustain the war effort.