Ukraine has reported utilizing sea drones to target two oil tankers belonging to Russia’s sanctioned shadow fleet, which were located a few dozen kilometers off the coast of Turkey. The vessels, Gambian-flagged ships named Kairos and Virat, experienced explosions on Friday evening following reports from their crews to Turkish authorities about the drone strikes.
Kairos, en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, suffered partial engulfment in flames, prompting the safe evacuation of all 25 crew members. Meanwhile, the crew aboard Virat disclosed that their ship was hit twice, resulting in minor damages. Notably, neither vessel was carrying any crude cargo at the time of the incidents.
Turkey’s transport and infrastructure minister, Abdulkadir UraloÄlu, confirmed that the attacks occurred within the country’s exclusive economic zone. He assured that measures were being taken in cooperation with relevant parties to prevent similar occurrences and ensure maritime safety, though specific details were not disclosed.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the two sanctioned ships, stating that they were carried out in collaboration with the Ukrainian navy using specialized “sea baby” drones equipped with reinforced warheads. The SBU released a video showcasing the drone strikes on the vessels, captured by onboard cameras.
Both Kairos and Virat had been subjected to sanctions by the U.K. and the European Union, with Virat, constructed in 2018, also facing sanctions from Canada. Despite multiple rounds of sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia’s shadow fleet, these vessels persist in transporting Russian crude, thereby supporting Moscow’s economy and its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
According to Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative, the shadow fleet, characterized by older vessels that frequently alter their identities and registration countries, poses a significant challenge to global shipping. Braw highlighted that these ships often fly “flags of convenience” from nations with limited maritime expertise, like The Gambia and the Cook Islands.
The Black Sea region has been fraught with tension since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, leading to incidents such as merchant ships sustaining damage from attacks on Ukrainian ports and encountering underwater mines inadvertently. Recent actions by Ukraine include strikes on Russia’s energy infrastructure, targeting facilities like the Novorossiysk port and the Afipsky oil refinery, resulting in significant damages.
Simultaneously, Moscow launched a barrage of missiles and drones across Ukraine, causing casualties in Kyiv. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a critical energy transportation network, reported severe damage to one of its mooring points in Novorossiysk following the attacks. These events underscore the escalating conflict dynamics in the region.
Overall, the ongoing confrontations highlight the complexities and risks associated with the shadow fleet’s operations and the broader geopolitical implications for the involved nations.