Ukraine strikes 2 of Russia‘s ‘shadow fleet’ tankers, Zelenskyy says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that his country’s military struck two tankers that he said were used to transport Russian oil to evade sanctions.
He revealed on social media on Sunday that the vessels were struck in the waters near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in southern Russia. Zelenskyy suggested that they were part of Russia’s “shadow oil fleet,” a group of ships carrying Russian oil to bypass international sanctions. Released footage shows an unmanned boat approaching a vessel in the sea.
Ukrainian Military Strikes Targeted Vessels
The strikes, which took place on Sunday, targeted two tankers believed to be part of Russia‘s shadow oil fleet. According to Zelenskyy, the vessels were carrying Russian oil and were attempting to evade international sanctions. The Ukrainian military used precision-guided munitions to strike the targets, resulting in significant damage to both vessels.
Primorsk Oil-Loading Port Also Targeted
In addition to striking the two tankers, Ukrainian forces also successfully hit targets at Russia‘s major oil-loading port of Primorsk in the northwestern region of Leningrad. Zelenskyy revealed that the targets included a missile ship and another tanker from the shadow oil fleet. He added, “Each such result further limits Russia’s war potential.”
Impact on Russia’s War Effort
The strikes are seen as part of Kyiv’s efforts to weaken Russia‘s capabilities to finance and continue the fighting. By targeting key infrastructure and vessels used by Russia to transport oil, Ukraine is attempting to disrupt Moscow’s ability to fund its military operations. The move is also likely to further strain relations between Ukraine and Russia.
In his social media post, Zelenskyy emphasized that the strikes were a significant blow to Russia‘s war potential, stating that each successful strike limits Moscow’s ability to continue fighting. The Ukrainian president’s comments suggest that Kyiv is committed to continuing its military campaign against Russia, despite the risks involved.
Original Article: Ukraine strikes 2 of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ tankers, Zelenskyy says — Or