Kyiv – In a dramatic escalation in the Black Sea, Ukraine has once again targeted Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” disabling a sanctioned oil tanker through a precision sea-drone strike — the third successful hit on such vessels in just two weeks.
According to Ukrainian security sources, the tanker Dashan was moving at high speed toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk with its tracking systems deliberately turned off when multiple Ukrainian naval drones locked onto it. Moments later, powerful blasts struck the vessel’s stern, leaving it critically damaged and unable to continue its journey.
Footage released by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) appears to show an unmanned sea drone racing toward the tanker before exploding on impact. Officials say the operation was aimed at tightening pressure on Moscow’s covert oil-export network, which relies on sanctioned tankers to bypass Western restrictions.
The Dashan, already blacklisted by the EU and UK, is part of Russia’s expanding “shadow fleet” — vessels that often sail without proper documentation, switch off transponders, and operate under obscure flags to transport Russian oil discreetly. By hitting these ships, Ukrainian officials say they are targeting Moscow’s financial backbone.
This strike follows two earlier Ukrainian attacks in late November on the tankers Kairos and Virat, both of which were effectively disabled. International maritime insurers have since begun reconsidering their risk assessments, with war-risk premiums for Black Sea operations reportedly rising sharply.
Analysts describe the latest operation as a pivotal example of modern naval warfare, where low-cost autonomous drones are reshaping long-held assumptions about maritime security. Ukraine’s strategy, they say, does not merely damage physical assets — it disrupts the economic channels that support Russia’s war effort.
With Kyiv demonstrating increasing precision and confidence at sea, the Black Sea is turning into one of the most unpredictable theatres of conflict. Each successful strike sends a clear message: vessels operating outside legal frameworks and in support of Moscow’s war machine may no longer sail unnoticed — or unharmed.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.