Ukraine's security services (SBU) claimed responsibility for striking two tankers in Russia's shadow fleet using Sea Baby underwater drones in the Black Sea on Friday and Saturday, severely damaging both vessels and disrupting Moscow's oil transport amid sanctions evasion efforts.
The Gambian-flagged tanker Virat, previously sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU, sustained repeated hits, with Turkey's Transport Ministry reporting minor above-waterline damage but no fire; the vessel slowed and altered course near the Turkish coast, awaiting instructions without crew evacuation requests. Nearby, the 275-meter Kairos also EU-sanctioned and carrying Russian crude from India exploded, forcing safe evacuation of all 25 crew members; Turkish tugboats extinguished the deck fire, confirming no territorial waters breach.
These attacks on Russia's opaque fleet of hundreds of flag-of-convenience tankers, which bypass Western sanctions to ship oil, follow prior unexplained Black Sea blasts and are expected to hinder Russia's energy exports significantly, with no Russian comment yet.