Ukraine Strikes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers at Novorossiysk: Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukrainian forces struck two Russian shadow fleet oil tankers at the entrance to the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The strikes are part of Kyiv’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Russia‘s ability to transport oil and petroleum products.
The two tankers, which were actively used to transport oil, have been rendered inoperable by the Ukrainian strikes. Zelenskyy credited Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov for leading the operation, along with counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Navy.
Ukraine Targets Sanctioned Tanker Marquise in Separate Black Sea Strike
In a separate strike, Ukraine‘s General Staff recently claimed that the sanctioned tanker Marquise was struck on April 29 by two kamikaze marine drones launched by a Ukrainian Navy unit. The vessel, sailing under a Cameroonian flag and with a cargo capacity exceeding 37,000 tons, was operating approximately 210 kilometers southeast of the Russian city of Tuapse without an active AIS signal at the time of the strike.
The Marquise is operated by Lidoil DMCC of the UAE and has been engaged in exporting Russian-origin oil and petroleum products since December 2023. The ship is under sanctions imposed by Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada.
Primorsk Oil Terminal Struck as Ukraine Launches Wave of Drone Attacks
Ukrainian drones also struck Russia‘s Baltic Sea oil export terminal at Primorsk on Sunday, temporarily setting it on fire before the blaze was extinguished. According to Leningrad region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, more than 60 drones were downed overnight over the region.
Primorsk is one of Russia‘s largest oil export gateways, with a handling capacity of 1 million barrels per day. The strike highlights Ukraine‘s ability to launch coordinated attacks across multiple fronts, further disrupting Russia’s energy sector.
As the drone war between Ukraine and Russia intensifies, Zelenskyy has vowed to expand Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities. The Ukrainian President emphasized that his country will continue to apply sanctions against Russia’s shadow oil fleet, demonstrating its commitment to countering Moscow’s efforts to circumvent international sanctions.
Original Article: Ukraine strikes 2 Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers at Novorossiysk: Zelenskyy – Türkiye Today — Turkiyetoday