Escalation of Naval Warfare: Ukraine Targets Russian Tankers in the Black Sea

Mon Dec 01 2025 00:39:19 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant escalation of military operations, Ukrainian naval drones struck two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea, signaling a strategic move to undermine Russia's oil revenues.

Ukraine has launched attacks targeting Russian tankers in the Black Sea, employing naval drones to strike the vessels Kairos and Virat, both part of Russia's covert oil operations. This action is viewed as an escalation amid ongoing tensions and aims to disrupt funding for Russia's military activities in Ukraine. Turkish authorities reported no casualties and affirmed their assistance to the affected vessels. The strikes reflect a broader strategy by Ukraine to exert pressure on Russia's oil market and assert control over maritime activities in the region.

Ukrainian naval drones recently struck two oil tankers from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' as they navigated through the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian officials.

Verified footage shows the waterborne drones speeding towards the vessels, detonating in flames, and releasing plumes of black smoke. The targeted tankers, named Kairos and Virat, are flagged to Gambia and were attacked off the Turkish coast, with the Virat hit again the following day. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

This series of strikes marks a notable escalation by Ukraine, aimed at disrupting Russia's critical oil revenues, which heavily finance its ongoing war in Ukraine. The two vessels are part of a clandestine fleet—often referred to as Russia's 'shadow fleet'—comprising numerous tankers utilized to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The strike method involved Sea Baby drones, a product developed by Ukraine's security services (SBU). Turkish authorities have reportedly been aiding the vessels and released footage showing Turkish boats attempting to quench the fire on the Kairos.

These attacks underscore a clear warning from Ukraine, suggesting that vessels transporting Russian oil face direct threats at sea, not merely from sanctions applied by Western nations.

In a related development, a consortium transporting oil from the Caspian region halted oil loading operations at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following drone attacks, which inflicted significant damage. Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister has voiced discontent over the attacks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stable energy supplies.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that a delegation, led by top security official Rustem Umerov, was en route to the U.S. to continue discussions on a potential agreement to end the war, signaling ongoing diplomatic efforts alongside military actions.