Turkish Authorities Confirm Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tankers Attacked by Ukrainian Sea Drones
Turkish authorities have confirmed that two oil tankers sailing under Gambian flags were struck by unmanned sea craft, known as “Sea Baby” drones, in the Black Sea near Turkey. The attacks, which occurred on Friday and Saturday, resulted in significant damage to the vessels, with one of them reportedly going up in flames.
The Ukrainian security services confirmed that Kyiv was behind the attack, stating that the strikes were carried out by unmanned sea craft equipped with warheads capable of carrying up to 2,000 kilograms. The drones, which have a range of up to 1,500 kilometers, are designed to operate across the Black Sea and can be used to target vessels sailing under non-Russian flags.
Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tankers Targeted by Ukrainian Sea Drones
The attacked tankers, Virat and Kairos, were part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of ships that allegedly help Russia sell oil while bypassing international sanctions. The ships were sailing in the Black Sea near Turkey when they were struck by the unmanned sea craft.
According to Turkish authorities, the Virat was hit once on Friday and again on Saturday, while the Kairos was also struck on Friday. No casualties were reported as a result of the attacks.
Ukraine’s “Sea Baby” Drones Used in Attack
Ukraine has been upgrading its “Sea Baby” drones to increase their range and payload capacity. The upgraded drones are capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 2,000 kilograms and have a range of up to 1,500 kilometers.
The use of these drones in the attack on the Russian tankers highlights Ukraine’s growing capabilities in terms of unmanned sea craft technology. The Sea Baby drones are designed to operate across the Black Sea and can be used to target vessels sailing under non-Russian flags.
Russia Continues Attacks on Ukrainian Cities
Meanwhile, Russia continues its wide-ranging attacks on Ukrainian cities, aimed largely at energy facilities. Kyiv says the goal is to freeze Ukrainians over the winter in an attempt to break public morale. The overnight assault targeted Kyiv and five other regions, resulting in the loss of electricity for about 600,000 households.
Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said Russia hit power infrastructure in the barrage on Kyiv and five other regions. As a result, the ministry said, about 600,000 households lost electricity, more than 500,000 of them in Kyiv.
U.S.-Brokered Talks Continue Despite Political Shake-Up
Despite the political shake-up in Kyiv following the resignation of Andrii Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S.-brokered talks aimed at ending the war are continuing. Yermak’s resignation came hours before Ukraine’s delegation left Kyiv for Miami for further talks with President Trump, envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the international community’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Original Article: Dramatic footage: Turkey shows Ukraine’s ‘Sea Baby’ drones hitting Russian shadow fleet tankers — Ynetnews