Two Russian shadow fleet tankers - Kairo and Virat - sanctioned by Western countries for involvement in transporting Russian oil were attacked in the Black Sea by Sea Baby maritime drones operated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Ukrainian outlets Ukrainska Pravda, RBC-Ukraine and UNIAN reported, citing SBU sources.
Fires on the tankers, which were off Turkey’s coast, broke out on the evening of November 28 and the vessels ignited almost simultaneously.
The attack occurred as the empty tankers were heading to the port of Novorossiysk, the sources said. “Sea Baby naval drones disabled vessels that could carry nearly $70 million worth of oil and helped the Kremlin evade international sanctions,” the SBU sources added.
According to UNIAN’s source, the strike was carried out jointly by the SBU’s 13th Main Directorate of military counterintelligence and Ukraine’s Navy, using upgraded Sea Baby maritime drones capable of long-range missions and equipped with reinforced warheads.
Footage published by media appears to show both vessels suffered critical damage. The sources said the Kairos and Virat have effectively been put out of service, which could significantly affect Russia’s oil transport. At the time of the attack, the tankers were reportedly sailing empty to the port of Novorossiysk in Russia to load crude.
An informed SBU source said the Kairos and Virat could carry nearly $70 million worth of oil.
On the morning of November 29, Turkey’s Ministry of Transport said the VIRAT tanker was attacked again, causing minor damage to its starboard side.
Reuters, citing data from the Tribeca maritime agency, previously reported that tankers from Russia’s “shadow fleet” off Turkey’s Black Sea coast may have struck a mine. The explosion on the Kairos triggered a fire roughly 52 miles north of the Bosphorus. The Virat was likely hit 35 nautical miles off the coast. Turkish rescuers evacuated the crew. Both tankers are on the list of Russia’s “shadow fleet” vessels sanctioned by the US and EU.
