Drones hit the terminal only hours after Ukraine struck two oil tankers believed to operate in Russia’s shadow fleet used to sidestep sanctions. One of Russia’s largest oil terminals suspends operations after an overnight drone strike. Sea drones hit the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s marine terminal in Novorossiysk at about 4AM, local media reports.
Naval Attacks Prompt Major Rescue Effort
Naval drones hit two oil tankers in the Black Sea near Turkey only hours earlier, an assault Ukraine claims. Rescue teams launch an extensive mission after the attacks. Coast guard and rescue units save the crews due to swift intervention. The Gambia-flagged Kairos explodes and burns about 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk, the Turkish Transport Ministry reports. Soon after, the Virat is reported struck in another Black Sea area about 35 nautical miles from Turkey.
Sanctioned Fleet Faces New Pressure
International sanctions target both ships after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, identifying them as part of an aging fleet used by Moscow to bypass limits on crude exports. OpenSanctions reports that the United States sanctions Virat in January, followed by the EU, Switzerland, the UK, and Canada. The EU sanctions Kairos in July, followed by the UK and Switzerland. A Ukrainian security official tells The Associated Press that Kyiv deploys domestically built Sea Baby naval drones against the tankers, which can carry oil worth over €60 million. The official, speaking anonymously, adds that Ukrainian intelligence continues to take active measures to restrict Russia’s financial capacity to sustain the war.
