Ukrainian Underwater Drones Strike Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers in Black Sea
Ukrainian underwater drones have struck two tankers belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea, according to an official in Ukraine’s security services (SBU). The attacks occurred on Friday and Saturday, with both vessels sustaining critical damage.
The SBU claimed that Sea Baby maritime drones were used in a joint operation by the agency and the Ukrainian navy. There was no immediate comment from Russia. According to a Ukrainian security source, the attacks effectively took two tankers out of service, dealing a significant blow to the transportation of Russian oil.
Russia uses hundreds of tankers, many sailing under different flags of convenience, to ship its oil to customers in defiance of sanctions. The Gambian-flagged tanker Virat was attacked again on Saturday, after first sustaining damage on Friday, according to Turkey’s Transport Ministry.
Turkish Authorities Respond to Attacks
Minor damage was sustained above the waterline, according to Turkish maritime authorities, and there was no fire. The vessel is some 30 miles (50 kilometers) off the Turkish coast. Ship tracking data showed it slowing and turning towards the coast late on Friday. There is no request from the personnel to abandon the ship, but a firefighting tugboat had been sent to the scene.
The Turkish foreign ministry expressed concern over the attacks, which “posed serious risks to the safety of navigation, life, property, and the environment in the region.” The Virat‘s destination was unclear. Shipping data showed it awaiting orders in the Black Sea. It was sanctioned by the United States in January when it sailed under a different name, and by the United Kingdom and European Union later this year.
Additional Attack on Russian Oil Tanker
There was also an explosion on another ship that carries Russian crude oil in a nearby part of the Black Sea on Friday. All 25 crew members on board that tanker, the Gambian-flagged Kairos, were evacuated. Neither vessel was in Turkish waters when they were hit.
Video showed Turkish tugs tackling an extensive fire on board the ship about 30 miles off the Turkish coast. On Saturday, the Turkish Transport ministry said that a fire on the open deck of the Kairos had been extinguished. The Kairos is 275 meters long and weighs nearly 80,000 tons. It was sanctioned by the EU earlier this year and left an Indian port earlier this month to return to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
Pipeline Attack in Russia
Earlier this year, several unexplained explosions occurred on ships that have carried oil for Russia from the Black Sea. Both the Virat and the Kairos had transited the Bosphorus Strait into the Black Sea. Other ships also sanctioned for carrying Russian crude oil were traveling the same route, according to shipping data on Saturday.
There was also an attack by a marine drone early Saturday on a mooring point in Novorossiysk, according to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. The pipeline carries oil from Kazakhstan – through Russia – to customers overseas. Kazakhstan’s energy ministry said it had “activated a plan to redirect export oil volumes to alternative routes” after the strike.
Kazakhstan’s foreign affairs ministry issued a statement protesting “yet another deliberate attack” on the pipeline, saying it harmed relations between the central Asian nation and Ukraine. This incident marks the third act of aggression against an exclusively civilian facility whose operation is safeguarded by norms of international law,” said spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov.
Novorossiysk has been attacked by Ukrainian drones multiple times. CNN has reached out to Ukraine’s security services for comment.
Original Article: Ukraine says it hit Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tankers with underwater drones in Black Sea — Yahoo