Ukrainian Naval Drones Attack Russian Oil Tankers in Black Sea Escalation

Kairos Tanker Damaged in Naval Drone Attack

On November 28, 2025, Kairos, operating under Gambian flag and EU and UK sanctions, sustained significant damage when struck by a naval drone approximately 28 nautical miles off Turkey's Black Sea coast. The strike caused an explosion and fire in its engine room, necessitating evacuation of all 25 crew members from their ships' engine rooms. Turkish authorities initially reported this as an external impact that caused fire; as soon as fire was extinguished the vessel was enveloped in thick black smoke for hours afterward.

The Kairos was on its way to Russia's Novorossiysk port when attacked, according to Ukrainian sources. Ukrainian security services later claimed responsibility, with SBU naval drones targeting it successfully and increasing risks of sinking risk for this tanker that had previously transported oil from Novorossiysk to Paradip in India via Novorossiysk port. This incident marked a direct blow against Russia's shadow fleet operations which rely on sanctioned vessels to circumvent western oil embargoes.

Virat Tanker Targeted in Repeated Drone Strikes

On November 28, 2025, approximately 35 nautical miles off of Black Sea's coastline, Gambian-flagged tanker Virat was struck by unmanned marine vehicles and sustained significant damage; its 20 member crew, however, remained safe. Turkish authorities reported the incident without ascertaining its source; heavy smoke was detected from engine room.

The Virat was struck again early on November 29, 2025, by unmanned maritime vehicles and sustained minor starboard side damage with no crew injuries reported. A Ukrainian SBU source confirmed modernized Sea Baby naval drones as being responsible. Like Kairos, Virat operates under Western sanctions for transporting Russian oil exports during wartime as part of Russia's shadow fleet infrastructure supporting petroleum exports from their home nation.

Coordinated SBU and Ukrainian Navy Operations.

Attacks on both tankers were conducted jointly by Ukraine's SBU 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and Ukrainian Navy. These coordinated strikes are indicative of Ukraine's expanding capacity to project power into the Black Sea and strike at Russia's maritime logistics network. Furthermore, Ukraine has recently advanced their unmanned maritime warfare capabilities by employing modernized systems such as Sea Baby naval drones as unmanned warfare platforms.

These operations fit within Ukraine's larger efforts to interfere with Russian oil exports and weaken Russia's shadow fleet infrastructure in order to circumvent international sanctions. They occurred against a backdrop of increasing tensions in the Black Sea where both Russian and Ukrainian forces have deployed naval mines and unmanned systems in an attempt to gain control over critical shipping lanes and energy infrastructure.