Ukrainian naval drones have struck two sanctioned oil tankers in the Black Sea as they sailed toward a Russian port to load oil for foreign markets, a Ukrainian security official said on Saturday. The attack is part of Kyiv’s ongoing effort to pressure Russia’s vast oil industry. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the tankers — identified as Kairos and Virat — were empty and traveling to Novorossiysk, one of Russia’s largest Black Sea oil terminals.
Video shared by the official shows fast-moving naval drones racing toward the large tankers, followed by powerful explosions that triggered fires on board.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the identity of the ships or when and where the footage was recorded.
In a written statement, the Ukrainian official said:
“After the strike, both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively removed from service. This will significantly undermine Russia’s oil transport capabilities.”
Pressure on Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’
Ukraine has spent months targeting Russian oil refineries with long-range aerial drones, hitting deep inside Russian territory. These latest strikes represent a shift in tactics, directly targeting tankers at sea.
Kyiv has repeatedly urged Western nations to take stronger action against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — hundreds of aging, loosely regulated vessels used to skirt sanctions and keep Russian oil flowing abroad. Ukrainian officials say the fleet helps fund Moscow’s war despite international restrictions.
In a separate development, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) — responsible for over 1% of global oil supply — announced on Saturday that it suspended operations after a mooring point at Russia’s Black Sea terminal suffered major damage from a Ukrainian naval drone.
CPC mainly exports oil from Kazakhstan through Russia, prompting Kazakhstan to call the attack unacceptable.
Both Tankers Were Already Under Sanctions
Naval drones used in the strike are explosive-laden unmanned boats designed to ram targets before detonating. These drones have played a key role in Ukraine’s Black Sea operations, forcing Russia’s once-dominant navy to retreat from several areas.
Turkey’s Transport Ministry confirmed that the 274-meter Kairos experienced an explosion and caught fire on Friday while traveling from Egypt to Russia. The crew was safely evacuated while firefighting efforts continued.
The Virat was reportedly hit about 35 nautical miles offshore. The vessel was targeted again on Saturday by unmanned boats, receiving minor damage above the waterline. Turkey said the ship remained stable and its crew unharmed.
LSEG data shows both Kairos and Virat are listed under sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey expressed concern over the attacks, noting that they occurred inside its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and posed significant safety risks.
Ankara is coordinating with relevant parties to prevent the conflict from escalating in the Black Sea and to safeguard its own economic interests, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on X.
The Ukrainian official did not specify the exact timing of the strikes, and Russia has not issued any public response.