SBU Maritime Drones Strike Two Russian Tankers in Black Sea Operation
The Security Service of Ukraine, in cooperation with the Naval Forces, conducted an operation in the Black Sea, resulting in the destruction of two new tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The vessels in question are the Louise 1 and the Banda.
According to the SBU, the Louise 1 tanker was involved in transporting Russian crude oil during the G7 and EU oil embargo. The vessel transported cargo from Russian ports on the Baltic and Black Seas while turning off its automatic identification system. In 2026 alone, it transported nearly 3 million metric tons of Russian Urals crude oil.
The tanker Banda also transported Russian crude oil from the ports of Ust-Luga, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Nakhodka.
SBU Emphasizes Significance of Targeting Shadow Fleet
The Ukrainian security service emphasized that striking the ships of the shadow fleet systematically deprives the Kremlin of funds for the war. “It is precisely these tankers that, in defiance of international sanctions, transport Russian oil and fill the aggressor state’s budget with billions of dollars. Therefore, every strike against the shadow fleet is a direct blow to the Russian Federation’s ability to continue its aggression. And every such vessel, as part of the Russian Federation’s war machine, is a legitimate target,” the SBU emphasized.
This was reported by the SBU.
Context: Recent Strikes Against Russian Vessels
As a reminder, on the night of July 12, SBU drones struck 14 Russian vessels—10 tankers and 4 ferries. In total, during the week of July 6–12, SBU “Birds” took out 90 vessels of the Russian Federation’s shadow fleet.
On the night of July 12, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a series of strikes against key military-economic and military targets of the enemy. In particular, the Syzran Oil Refinery in the Samara Region of the Russian Federation was hit, with explosions and a fire reported at the site. The facility, with a design capacity of 8.5 million metric tons of oil per year, supplies fuel to the occupying forces’ armed forces.
Original Article: Video: SBU maritime drones struck two tankers belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea — Ua