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Ukraine strikes Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers with naval drones
Ukrainian forces used unmanned surface drones to attack two oil tankers linked to Russia's sanctioned "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea on Friday, officials confirmed, marking a further escalation in Kyiv's campaign to disrupt Moscow's wartime oil revenues.
Footage verified by the BBC captured the moment explosive-laden drones struck the vessels, igniting fires and sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. Turkish authorities identified the targeted ships as the Kairos and Virat, both registered under Gambia's flag. The Virat was reportedly hit again on Saturday. No casualties were reported in either incident.
Targeting Russia's sanctioned oil network
The two tankers are part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet-a clandestine network of hundreds of aging vessels used to evade Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Many operate with opaque ownership structures or dubious insurance coverage, according to maritime analysts.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) deployed Sea Baby drones, a domestically produced naval weapon, in the attacks. The Kairos was struck in the southwestern Black Sea, while the Virat was hit farther east in central waters. Both vessels appear on sanctions lists compiled by the London Stock Exchange.
Turkish coastal teams responded to the Kairos blaze, with released footage showing fireboats attempting to contain the flames. The strikes serve as a direct warning to ships transporting Russian oil: beyond Western sanctions, they now face the risk of physical attack in Black Sea routes.
Broader impact on regional oil infrastructure
Separately, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC)-a major conduit for Caspian oil-halted loadings at Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after an overnight drone strike damaged a critical mooring point. The consortium, co-owned by Russia, Kazakhstan, and Western firms including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell, cited "significant" infrastructure harm.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Aibek Smadiyarov condemned the attack as the third such incident, warning it undermined energy supply stability and strained bilateral ties with Ukraine. "We urge Kyiv to take concrete measures to prevent recurrence," Smadiyarov stated, emphasizing his country's reliance on uninterrupted exports.
Diplomatic maneuvers amid shifting negotiations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Saturday that a delegation led by newly appointed security chief Rustem Umerov would travel to the U.S. for war-ending talks. The shift follows the resignation of Zelensky's former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, after anti-corruption investigators searched his residence on Friday.
The Ukrainian team is scheduled to meet U.S. officials in Florida on Sunday. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff, overseas envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to hold separate discussions in Moscow next week, though no further details were disclosed.
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