Major Oil Depot & Tanker Severely Damaged After Russian Drone Strike At Izmail Port

Screengrab from X video posted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A Panama-flagged tanker and a major oil depot in Ukraine’s Danube port of Izmail have been heavily damaged in a large-scale Russian drone attack.

The product and chemical tanker Excellion (7,842 dwt), built in 2008, had arrived from Sulina, Romania on August 19. The vessel, operated by UK-based Makoil Group and managed from Estonia, was fully loaded with petroleum products, likely diesel.

According to maritime tracking data, it reached the port at 2 p.m. and was discharging cargo at the eastern berth of the Izmail Oil Transshipment Complex when the strike began at around 8 p.m. local time on August 20.

Russian-affiliated sources claimed the tanker and port facilities were directly targeted. Per reports, at least 20 drones were used in the operation, producing more than 30 explosions over a 90-minute period.

Maritime intelligence firm Ambrey Analytics reported observing unverified footage after the attack, showing widespread fire and destruction across the terminal.

Last night, a drone strike on Okhtyrka in the Sumy region injured 14 people. A family with wounded children – 5 months, 4 years, and 6 years old – sought assistance after the attack. In Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, a glide bomb strike damaged five apartment buildings, and at… pic.twitter.com/TWRPo4Po6F

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 20, 2025

The Excellion was caught in the middle of offloading operations, with pressurised fuel lines connected. Ukrainian media reported that its starboard side, pumping systems, and valves were badly damaged.

Ambrey added that fire and heat exposure disabled the ship’s onboard pumping and pipeline infrastructure, leaving it unable to operate independently. Sources suggested the vessel may need to be towed out and could face possible decommissioning. The tanker’s last AIS signal was recorded early on August 21, after the attack.

Local authorities confirmed that the port terminal was hit and one civilian was injured. Emergency officials said 54 rescuers and 16 firefighting units were deployed to contain fires and explosions caused by the strikes.

Russian reports stated that six large storage tanks were present at the Triton depot, a critical hub for Ukraine’s energy supply. Two tanks, each with a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters, were reported destroyed, while a third was damaged and caught fire as it depressurised. Other parts of the facility, including a high-pressure pumping station, transfer lines, and control systems, were also reported heavily damaged.

The Triton depot is one of Ukraine’s most important supply assets, handling as much as 20,000 tons of fuel each week. It has been used for transferring diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products, with Russian sources alleging that it played a role in supplying Ukrainian forces in eastern battle zones.

Reference: eadaily

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