Ukraine disables sanctioned tanker in Black Sea using sea drones

According to Reuters, Ukrainian sea drones struck and disabled a tanker linked to Russian oil shipments on Wednesday as it sailed through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. The vessel, identified as the Dashan, was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

The strike marks the third attack in two weeks on vessels Kyiv labels part of Russia’s “shadow fleet”, a network of unregulated ships Ukraine says helps Moscow export oil and fund its war despite Western sanctions.

War-risk insurance for ships entering the Black Sea has surged in recent weeks, with underwriters reviewing policies daily as the conflict increasingly threatens commercial sea lanes.

According to an official from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), the Dashan was moving at top speed with its transponders off when sea drones hit its stern. The blasts caused critical damage. The official gave no details about casualties.

The tanker is under EU and UK sanctions and is sailing without a known flag. Three maritime security sources confirmed the incident. Russia has not commented.

Video provided by the SBU shows naval drones approaching the vessel before explosions light up its stern. Reuters verified the footage by matching ship structures with file images and confirming the location through tracking data.

“The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce oil revenues flowing to Russia’s budget,” the official said. “This is the third shadow-fleet tanker disabled in the past two weeks.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week called the drone strikes “piracy” and threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.

Ukraine has attacked Russian oil refineries for months using long-range drones, but the strikes on tankers mark a new approach. There have been at least seven explosions involving tankers calling at Russian ports since December 2024. Maritime security sources believe Ukraine used limpet mines in several cases, though Kyiv has not confirmed involvement.

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