Ukraine Strikes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Mediterranean Sea
Ukraine has struck a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker with drones in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, Kyiv revealed today. The cargo ship, called the Qendil, was sailing in an undisclosed location around 1,243 miles from Ukraine’s borders when it was hit in a “new, unprecedented special operation”, according to a source in the Security Service of Ukraine.
The tanker had sustained critical damage and cannot be used for its intended purpose, the source claimed. The explosive attack on the empty vessel was the first of its kind in the Mediterranean and a dramatic development in the near four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.
Context: Russia’s Shadow Fleet
Russia‘s shadow fleet is estimated to include up to 1,000 ships, which frequently change their flags and whose ownership is unclear. This fleet has enabled Moscow to keep exporting its crude oil for much-needed revenue despite curbs on exports. Experts and several European leaders also believe some vessels have been used by Russia to conduct hybrid warfare across the continent.
Putin’s Response
The attack was announced by Kyiv while Vladimir Putin was taking part in his marathon end-of-year news conference and will be interpreted as a major embarrassment for the Russian President. Putin vowed to retaliate following the humiliating attack, saying that “attacks on Russian civilian ships will not lead to the expected result. And a response from Russia will inevitably follow.”
Details of the Attack
The Ukrainian source did not give further details of the attack, including how the SBU deployed a drone in the Mediterranean, from where it was launched, or which countries the drones could have flown over. However, the source claimed that the tanker was empty at the time of the attack and there was no environmental threat resulting from the operation.
Kyiv’s Message
The source said the tanker was used to circumvent Western sanctions and fund Russia‘s war chest, and claimed the attack was “an absolutely legitimate target“. The SBU confirmed the hit in a statement: “The SBU for the first time hit a tanker of the Russian ‘shadow fleet’ in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea.”
Putin’s End-of-Year News Conference
Putin, Russia‘s paramount leader since the last day of 1999, is today leading his televised end-of-year news conference and call-in with the population. At the “Results of the Year” event, which the Russian leader has held in different formats most years since 2001, he fields dozens of questions on everything from price rises and his own future to nuclear weapons and what the Kremlin calls the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine.
The attack on the Russian shadow fleet tanker is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As the war continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how Putin will respond to this latest provocation from Kyiv.
Original Article: Russia-Ukraine war spreads to the MED as Kyiv strikes ‘shadow fleet’ tanker with drones — Co