Ukraine hit two ‘shadow fleet’ tankers with drones in Black Sea

Two Russian “shadow fleet” oil tankers burst into flames and exploded in the Black Sea after being hit by Ukrainian underwater drones in devastating blasts.

The ships are part of the hundreds of vessels used by the Kremlin to export oil while evading Western sanctions — flying flags from other countries to avoid detection.

The pair of tankers, which were empty when they were struck, could have transported nearly $70 million worth of oil, a Ukrainian security service source told the Kyiv Independent. 

Ukraine hit two tankers used by Russia to export oil with marine drones in the Black Sea. SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images

Video grab taken from images released by the Security Service of Ukraine shows smoke rising from a cargo ship on fire in the Black Sea. SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images

“This will deal a significant blow to Russian oil transportation,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Saturday. 

“After being hit, both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service.”

Footage shared by the security service shows a rapid explosion in the front of one of the tankers Friday, followed by a large bright orange ball of flames erupting from the water and thick billowing black smoke rising several feet into the air. 

The fire and smoke continued to spread higher and wider, engulfing the tanker.

The ships, identified as the “Kairos” and “Virat” — trageted in a joint operation with Ukraine’s navy — have been heavily sanctioned by Western powers.

The 900-foot Kairos was returning to Russia after delivering crude oil to India, Bloomberg reported.

It was sailing under the flag of Gambia, after being sanctioned by the EU and UK. 

According to an SBU official, both tankers were empty and headed to a major Russian oil terminal. SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images

“The shadow tanker fleet continues to provide multibillion-dollar revenues for the Kremlin bypassing sanctions, disguising its activities under the flags of third countries, using complex schemes to conceal owners,” the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said about Kairos.

The explosion happened 28 nautical miles off the Turkish shore, and emergency staff were immediately dispatched to rescue the 25 crew members on board, Turkey’s Ministry of Transport said.

The second tanker, Virat, was also reportedly traveling toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk — a major oil terminal — for loading. 

It was hit in a second strike Saturday morning, 35 nautical miles from the Turkish coast, the country’s authorities said.

“Virat suffered a new attack in the morning hours,” the ministry said in a post on X. “Rescue teams are waiting at a safe distance from the vessel for security reasons.”

There was heavy smoke in the engine room but the 20 crew membes on board were safely evacuated, it said.

“Video (footage) shows that after being hit, both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. This will deal a significant blow to Russian oil transportation,” the official said. SECURITY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/AFP via Getty Images

The 800-feet Virat, sanctioned by the US and EU, uses “irregular and high-risk shipping practices,” according to the OpenSanctions portal. 

It had previously sailed under the flags of Barbados, Liberia and Panama, but spent much of the year idling in the Black Sea after being blacklisted by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control in January.Ukraine has repeatedly called for tougher sanctions on Russia’s “shadow fleet” which it says is helping fund strongman Vladimir Putin’s nearly four-year long war.