Ukraine used unmanned boats to attack two oil tankers belonging to the 'Night Fleet'.
Ukraine has just carried out an attack using unmanned boats targeting two oil tankers traveling in the Black Sea. This move is seen as a new escalation in Kyiv's efforts to pressure Russia's energy export sector – a crucial source of revenue.
On November 30, an official from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) confirmed to Reuters that its forces had used unmanned boats to attack two oil tankers named Kairos and Virat.
According to the source, both ships are on the sanctions list and were en route to Novorossiysk – a strategic Russian oil and gas port on the Black Sea – to load crude oil for export to foreign markets.
Videos shared by Ukrainian officials show unmanned boats speeding towards massive oil tankers, followed by large explosions that ignite fires on board.
"Following the attack, both ships were severely damaged and are considered out of service. This is a major blow to Russia's oil transport capabilities," an SBU official stated in a written statement.
On the Turkish side, the Ministry of Transport stated that the oil tanker Kairos (274m long) caught fire on November 29 while en route from Egypt to Russia. The crew was safely evacuated by rescue vessels while firefighting efforts were underway.
Regarding the Virat, Türkiye confirmed that the ship was attacked approximately 35 nautical miles from shore, sustained minor damage to its starboard side, and the crew remained safe.
Ukraine's shift in targeting transport ships marks a notable tactical change. Previously, Kyiv primarily used long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to attack oil refineries deep within Russian territory.
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly called on the West to take more decisive action against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," a collection of hundreds of old, often poorly inspected oil tankers used by Moscow to transport oil in order to circumvent Western sanctions and oil price caps.
According to data from LSEG, both the Kairos and Virat ships are on the list of vessels subject to sanctions related to the conflict in Ukraine.
The attack had ripple effects on regional energy security. The Caspian Pipeline Association (CPC) – which handles more than 1% of the world's oil – announced it had to suspend operations after a berth at the port of Novorossiysk was damaged by the attack.
Kazakhstan, a major oil exporter via this route, has voiced its opposition to the action.
Türkiye also expressed deep concern over the attacks occurring within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli stressed that Ankara is in contact with relevant parties to prevent the conflict from escalating in the Black Sea and to protect maritime safety in the region.
Currently, Russia has not issued an official comment on the incident.
