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 oil shipping.
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.
The strike is notable not only because it was further away in the Mediterranean but also because it used aerial drones. “This development reflects a stark expansion of Ukraine’s use of uncrewed aerial systems against maritime assets associated with Russia’s sanctioned oil export network,” British maritime risk-management group Vanguard said.
Multi-Stage Measures
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.
The strike on the Qendil is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine to target Russian oil shipping. 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.
Shadow Fleet Expansion
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. The shadow fleet has grown significantly, with some estimates suggesting it now accounts for 11% of global demand.
The strike on the Qendil is a significant escalation of Ukraine‘s campaign against Russian oil shipping. It comes as Russia‘s President Vladimir Putin has threatened to sever Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea in response to the attacks on tankers, which he has derided as piracy.
Original Article: Ukraine strikes Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in Mediterranean — Yahoo