By Hollie SilvermanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberUkrainian security forces used explosive-laden naval drones to strike two Russian oil tankers operating as part of Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey on Friday, Ukrainian and Turkish officials confirmed Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
The attacks left one vessel ablaze and both reportedly out of operation, but all crew members survived, according to authorities.
Why It Matters
The incident targeted ships that Western governments have identified as crucial to Russia’s ability to bypass international sanctions and finance its military actions in Ukraine amid the ongoing war.
The strikes occurred in a strategic maritime corridor, raising concerns about energy security and navigational safety near Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member.
The naval drone attacks follow mounting efforts by Ukraine to curtail Russia’s revenue from energy exports in the wake of Western sanctions imposed after Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The event also highlights ongoing risks to commercial shipping and regional stability in the Black Sea where tensions and conflict have led to repeated disruptions over almost four years of war.
...What To Know
On Friday afternoon, Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Sea Baby naval drones struck the Gambian-flagged Kairos as well as Virat oil tankers. Both tankers are associated with Russia’s shadow fleet used to evade sanctions.
The strikes took place within Turkey's exclusive economic zone, around 30 nautical miles off the Turkish coastline near Kocaeli province.
Officials said the tankers were empty and heading to Novorossiysk, Russia, when hit, the AP reported.
The Kairos caught fire, prompting the Turkish Coast Guard to rescue all 25 crew members. The Virat sustained damage attributed to at least two drone strikes but was not ablaze, and no evacuation was required, officials stated.
Turkish authorities said the captain of the Virat reported a “drone attack” in his initial distress call. Video footage reportedly supplied by Ukrainian intelligence showed the tankers suffering critical structural damage, rendering them inoperable.
The Virat was sanctioned by the U.S. in January, followed by the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada, according to the OpenSanctions website. Similarly, the EU sanctioned the Kairos in July, followed by the U.K. and Switzerland.
The SBU official told the AP that the sea Baby naval drones had disabled vessels capable of transporting oil worth almost $70 million, hindering Russia’s efforts to circumvent international sanctions.
Russia’s shadow fleet is described as a constantly shifting network of vessels that frequently change registration and flags of convenience to elude detection and avoid sanctions enforcement. Many of these ships present additional environmental risks as they bypass established safety protocols, according to OpenSanctions.
What People Are Saying
A spokesperson for the SBU told Ukrainska Pravda on Saturday: “This was a joint operation by the SSU’s 13th Main Directorate of military counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy. Upgraded Sea Baby maritime drones were successfully used against the vessels. They can travel long distances and are equipped with reinforced warheads.”
What Happens Next?
Ukraine has said it will continue assaults on Russian energy and military supply routes.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian delegation is scheduled to meet this weekend with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner for continued peace plan talks to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
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