Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tankers Targeted by SBU Drones in Black Sea
In a bold move to disrupt Russia’s clandestine oil trade, Ukrainian security forces have launched a series of drone strikes against two vessels believed to be part of Moscow’s shadowy fleet. The attacks, carried out by the State Border Guard Service (SBU), targeted the Louise 1 and Banda tankers in the Black Sea.
According to SBU officials, the Louise 1 was last detected near Novorossiysk, a major Russian port city, while the Banda had arrived in the Black Sea several days prior. Both vessels are suspected of carrying oil from sanctioned Russian energy giant Lukoil and other entities linked to Moscow’s energy sector.
The Louise 1, with a capacity to carry over 1 million barrels of crude, has been involved in several high-profile transactions since February 2026. In that month, it delivered nearly 735,000 barrels of Urals crude from Russia’s Primorsk port to Turkey. The vessel then returned to Novorossiysk, where it offloaded more than 1 million barrels of Urals crude to India.
The Banda, meanwhile, has been linked to several Russian ports, including Ust-Luga, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Nakhodka. Its exact location at the time of the attack could not be determined due to large-scale AIS spoofing – the falsification of a vessel’s location data.
The SBU‘s decision to target these vessels is seen as a significant escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s energy trade. The move comes just days after a Ukrainian Sea Baby naval drone attacked the sanctioned tanker Blue in Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
Shadow Fleet Operations Under Scrutiny
Ukrainian intelligence agencies have long been monitoring the activities of companies linked to 2Rivers Group, considered one of the largest operators of Russia’s shadow fleet. Redwood Global Supply FZ-LLC, a company registered in the United Arab Emirates and sanctioned by Britain in December 2025 for activity in Russia’s energy sector, is believed to be part of this network.
The Louise 1 has been involved in several transactions with Redwood, including a delivery of over 1 million barrels of Urals crude from Novorossiysk to India in March. The vessel’s activities have raised concerns among international sanctions authorities and energy experts, who see the shadow fleet as a key component of Russia’s efforts to circumvent economic penalties.
International Response
The attacks on the Louise 1 and Banda tankers are likely to draw international attention and potentially prompt further action against Russian entities involved in illicit oil trade. The move is seen as a significant escalation in Ukraine’s efforts to disrupt Russia’s energy sector, which has been a key target of Western sanctions.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how other nations will respond to these attacks and whether they will take similar measures to disrupt Russia’s shadow fleet operations. One thing is clear, however: the SBU‘s bold move has sent a strong message that Ukraine will not stand idly by as Russia seeks to exploit its energy sector for illicit purposes.
Original Article: SBU drones strike Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers Louise 1 and Banda in the Black Sea — Theins