Ukraine Strikes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Black Sea Using Sea Baby Drone

Attack on the Tanker Blue

According to Главком: Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has struck the tanker Blue in the Black Sea using a Sea Baby maritime drone. The vessel is part of Russia's shadow fleet and was located near the temporarily occupied city of Yalta at the time of the attack. The drone hit the ship's stern, causing significant damage.

The Blue is under sanctions from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine. It is a Suezmax-class vessel, indicating its large size and substantial cargo capacity. Russian aviation attempted to neutralize the SBU drone, but no reports of success have emerged.

Systematic SBU Campaign

This strike is part of a broader, systematic effort by the SBU to reduce the economic capacity of the aggressor state. As stated by the SBU press center,

'Targeting shadow fleet vessels is part of the SBU's systematic work to diminish the economic potential of the aggressor state. It is through such tankers that Russia circumvents international sanctions, earning billions in oil export profits that are funneled into funding the war against Ukraine.'

Over the past week, units of the SBU's Center for Special Operations A also carried out a series of strikes on key military assets of Russian occupation forces in temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. As part of a special operation in Crimea, Ukrainian drones hit both military support vessels and positions of the S-400 missile system. The drone strikes near Kerch damaged military support ships at a local shipbuilding yard, as well as components of Russian air defense systems in the Kerch Strait zone.

This incident underscores the SBU's active role in conducting military operations against Russian forces and their economic infrastructure. Targeting tankers and military installations is part of Ukraine's strategy to weaken Russia's resource base, directly impacting the course of the war. Such actions highlight the ongoing conflict and the continued need for international sanctions against the aggressor.

This recent attack highlights the ongoing strategy of the SBU in targeting Russia's maritime assets. For a deeper understanding of Ukraine's comprehensive efforts to disrupt the supply of fuel to Crimea, you can read more about how Ukraine has successfully targeted multiple tankers from Russia's shadow fleet in this related report.