Russia Targets Shadow Fleet Tankers in Black Sea Amid Escalated Maritime Tensions

Shadow Fleet Tankers Are Hit By Explosions Near Turkish Coast

Russian sanctioned shadow fleet oil tankers caught fire in the Black Sea on November 28, 2025, prompting immediate rescue operations and raising critical questions about maritime security in the region. One, Gambia-flagged Kairos (900 foot tanker sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk, Russia), suffered an explosion about 28 nautical miles off Turkey's Kocaeli province around 15:00 GMT that resulted in massive fire visible for miles; prompting fast action by Turkish coastguards and rescue units who quickly intervened to rescue 25 crew members safe evacuation and reported being in good health after swift action by Turkish coast guards and rescue units ensuring safe evacuation with all being safely evacuated and reported good condition after swift intervention by Turkish coast guard rescue units swiftly intervened and reported all 25 crewmembers had safely left.

Shortly after the Kairos incident, an 820-foot tanker named Virat was struck approximately 35 nautical miles off Turkey. Although emitting heavy smoke from its engine room, all 20 crew members remained unharmed. Turkish authorities initially described the first explosion as being caused by external impact but could not identify its exact source; such sources included naval mines or targeted attacks.

Ukraine Assumes Responsibility for Naval Drone Attacks

Turkish officials later confirmed that both vessels had been attacked by unmanned maritime vehicles (UMV). A Ukrainian source from SBU Security Service claimed responsibility, alleging modernized Sea Baby naval drones successfully targeted both vessels. Virat experienced its second attack early Saturday, November 29, 2025 but sustained only minor starboard side damage with no crew injuries reported.

These attacks mark a step up in Ukraine's campaign against Russia's shadow fleet, which has played an instrumental role in bypassing Western sanctions imposed on it following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Moscow generates multibillion-dollar revenues while operating their vessels under third-country flags and disguising ownership thereby endangering both financial and environmental safety of international maritime communities.

Sanctioned Vessels and Shadow Fleet Operations

Both tankers have come under Western sanctions. The Virat was sanctioned first by the US in January 2025, followed by Europe, Switzerland, UK and Canada shortly afterwards. Built in 2018, this vessel previously flew Barbadian, Comoran, Liberian and Panama flags prior to being sanctioned. Meanwhile, Kairos was sanctioned first by Europe, followed by UK and Switzerland then by Panama Greece Liberia flags before its current status was reached in July 2025.

These vessels form part of Russia's shadow fleet strategy to transport oil out of Russian ports in defiance of an embargo imposed after their 2022 invasion of Ukraine, circumventing any embargo restrictions and circumvent international authorities' efforts at monitoring. Unfortunately, their complex ownership structures make tracking these vessels challenging.

Concerns Regarding Environmental and Regional Security Concerns

These incidents have raised significant environmental concerns about potential environmental damage in the Black Sea, already considered high-risk due to previous conflicts and unexploded ordnance found there. Turkish maritime authorities continue to closely monitor this region to prevent further incidents and safeguard shipping within Bosporus and surrounding waters. There have been documented instances of ships encountering drifting mines deployed by both Russian and Ukrainian forces since 2022 - something Turkish maritime authorities continue to closely monitor as well.

NATO Members Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania established the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in 2024 to oversee de-mining efforts in the Black Sea. Although many mines have been located and destroyed since their introduction, others continue to migrate after storms, posing a continuing risk to commercial shipping vessels.

Broader Impact on Russian Oil Infrastructure

These coordinated attacks showed Ukraine's growing ability to disrupt Russia's energy export infrastructure and maritime operations in the Black Sea region. A naval drone attacked Novorossiysk oil terminal, a key facility used for Kazakh oil exports via Kazakhstan Pipeline Consortium pipelines. Caspian Pipeline Consortium reported significant damage at Novorossiysk oil terminal early Saturday morning as Kazakh exports stopped early. These coordinated strikes demonstrated Ukraine's expanding capabilities of disrupting energy infrastructure as well as maritime operations from Russian bases along these waterway routes.