Ukraine hits Russian tankers in Black Sea

LONDON, Nov 30: Ukrainian naval drones have struck two tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” as they moved through the Black Sea, according to officials in Kyiv. Verified video shows fast-moving sea drones slamming into the vessels, then exploding in bright fireballs that sent thick smoke skyward, the BBC reported.

Turkish authorities identified the damaged ships as the Kairos and the Virat, both sailing under the Gambian flag. They were hit off Türkiye’s coast on Friday, and the Virat was reportedly struck again a day later. No injuries were reported, according to information shared with the BBC.

Kyiv appears to be stepping up efforts to hurt Moscow’s oil income, which remains a key source of funding for the war. The two tankers are part of what experts call Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a network of ageing ships with murky ownership or insurance that Moscow uses to skirt Western sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion. This account was outlined in BBC coverage.

The Kairos was struck in the southwest Black Sea, while the Virat was hit farther east. Both ships are listed under sanctions, based on London Stock Exchange data cited in BBC reporting.

Sources told BBC Ukrainian that the attack used Sea Baby drones, a naval drone model developed by Ukraine’s SBU security service. Türkiye said it assisted both vessels and released video of Turkish crews trying to put out the fire on the Kairos, as shared in BBC reports.

Analysts say the strikes serve as a signal from Ukraine that tankers carrying Russian oil through the Black Sea now face the possibility of direct attack, not only sanctions. This interpretation was noted in BBC analysis.

In a separate development, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium halted loading operations in Novorossiysk after unmanned boats hit the Russian Black Sea port overnight. The consortium reported serious damage to a mooring point. Russia and Kazakhstan hold major stakes in the company, along with Western firms including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell. This information was carried in BBC dispatches.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a delegation led by top security official Rustem Umerov is traveling to the United States for talks on a possible agreement to end the war. Umerov replaces Andriy Yermak, who resigned after anti-corruption investigators searched his home. The delegation plans to meet US officials in Florida on Sunday, according to BBC reports.