Ukraine Increases Shadow Fleet Campaign by Launching Naval Drone Strikes against Russian Oil Tankers

Ukrainian Naval Drones Attack Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) launched coordinated naval drone attacks against two sanctioned oil tankers operating within Russia's shadow fleet from November 28-29, 2025 using Sea Baby unmanned vessels jointly operated by its 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and Ukrainian Navy against Gambian-flagged tankers MT Kairos and MT Virat off Turkey's Black Sea coast.

Kairos was severely damaged after an explosion late Friday, November 28, taking on water and catching fire as it traveled from Egypt to Russia's Novoressiysk port. Crew members were evacuated via rescue boats while Turkish authorities reported ongoing fire suppression efforts. Virat, another tanker traveling southbound from Egypt towards Russia was later hit approximately 35 nautical miles offshore on November 28, suffering minor damage above its waterline starboard side from another attack early Saturday morning .

Ukrainian officials reported that both tankers were sailing empty when struck, heading toward Novorossiysk to load Russian crude oil. Together they had an estimated carrying capacity of roughly $70 million worth of crude. These attacks represent a strategic shift in Ukraine's campaign against Russia's war-funding infrastructure as they move beyond targeting refineries to strike directly at vessels themselves.

Shadow Fleet Operations and Sanctions Evasion

Russia's shadow fleet--an array of hundreds of often unregulated vessels that emerged following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine--was targeted. Their purpose is to circumvent Western sanctions designed to reduce Moscow's oil export revenues and restrict funding for military operations.

Both Kairos and Virat appear on international sanctions lists imposed against Russia. The Kairos has previously operated between Turkish, Egyptian, Indian, and Russian ports using traditional shadow fleet routes; Virat (built 2018) had been classified by Indian Registry of Shipping up until May 6, 2025; she appeared on US Office of Foreign Assets Control blacklist as of January 10, 2025.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly called upon Western nations to take direct action against Russia's shadow fleet, contending that these vessels enable it to export massive amounts of oil while also raising revenues to fund its military campaign despite international sanctions.

Regional Tensions and Infrastructure Damage

Attacks in Turkey's Exclusive Economic Zone have raised diplomatic alarm in Ankara. A spokesperson from Turkey's Foreign Ministry, Oncu Keceli, stated that Turkey is in contact with all relevant parties in an effort to de-escalate Black Sea conflict and safeguard economic interests and maritime operations of both Turkey and its allies.

Separately, Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which accounts for more than one percent of global oil exports, suspended operations on November 29 following an incident involving Ukrainian naval drone attacks that severely damaged Russia's Black Sea terminal mooring mooring. CPC exports Kazakhstani crude via Russia's Black Sea infrastructure via this route and Kazakhstan has condemned such actions as unacceptable.

Spain's navy has issued navigational warnings to vessels sailing in Black Sea waters and has noted significant risks posed by floating mines that pose maritime hazards in some of these contested waters.