Ukraine Strikes Russian Oil Tanker in Mediterranean with Drones

Ukraine Strikes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Mediterranean

Ukraine has struck a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea with aerial drones for the first time, an official said on Friday, reflecting the growing intensity of Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oilshipping.

The vessel – the Qendil – was empty when it was struck by drones in neutral waters more than 2,000 km (1,250 miles) from Ukraine, sustaining critical damage, the official at the SBU security service said in a written statement. The tanker was located off Libya’s coast at 1330 GMT, MarineTraffic data showed.

Overhead footage provided by the source showed a small explosion on the deck of a tanker. Reuters confirmed the vessel shown in the video was the Qendil by comparing it with file imagery, but could not verify the time or location.

Growing Intensity of Ukraine’s Attacks

Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil refineries throughout 2024 and 2025, but has visibly widened its campaign in recent weeks, striking oil rigs in the Caspian Sea and claiming credit for sea-drone attacks on three tankers in the Black Sea. Those tankers as well as the Oman-flagged Qendil are part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” – unregulated ships that Kyiv says are helping Moscow export large quantities of oil and fund its war in Ukraine despite Western sanctions.

Multi-Stage Measures

The strike on the Qendil is notable not only because it was further away in the Mediterranean but also because it used aerial drones. The Ukrainian official did not say how the drones reached the ship, but said the operation involved “multi-stage” measures. The SBU, the vast security agency behind the attack, has conducted highly sophisticated attacks against Russia, smuggling in dozens of drones for an operation to destroy strategic bombers at air bases far beyond the front in June.

Russian Response

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has threatened to sever Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea in response to the attacks on tankers, which he has derided as piracy. There was no fresh comment from Moscow on the latest attack.

Vessels Mentioned

Original Article: Ukraine Hits Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker In Mediterranean — Gcaptain