Kyiv has escalated its naval campaign against Moscow’s economic lifelines, claiming a successful strike on a vessel suspected of skirting international sanctions within the Black Sea.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed that its unmanned surface vessels (USVs) intercepted and disabled a tanker transporting oil toward the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The operation took place within Ukraine’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), marking a significant shift in Kyiv's maritime strategy from targeting military warships to disrupting the energy exports that fund the Kremlin’s war machine.
The vessel, identified as the Dashan, was reportedly travelling at top speed under the cover of darkness with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off—a common tactic used by ships attempting to obscure their location and cargo.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the tanker forms part of Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet". This flotilla of ageing, often under-insured vessels is used by Moscow to bypass the G7 price cap on Russian crude oil and maintain export revenues despite Western embargoes.
“The tanker sustained critical damage to its stern following a series of explosions,” an SBU source stated. Video footage released by Kyiv appears to show the pilot's view from a sea drone moments before impact, though independent verification of the damage remains pending.
Strategic Shift in the Black Sea
This incident represents the third such strike in just two weeks, signalling a concerted effort by Ukraine to enforce a blockade on Russian energy logistics in the region.
While earlier phases of the naval war focused on forcing the Russian Black Sea Fleet away from the Crimean coast and securing the grain corridor for Ukrainian exports, this new pattern suggests Kyiv is now directly targeting the revenue streams that sustain the Russian invasion.
Novorossiysk, the tanker’s intended destination, is a critical hub for Russia's oil exports and naval logistics. By threatening commercial shipping in these waters, Ukraine effectively raises the insurance premiums and logistical risks for companies continuing to trade with Russia.
Safety and Environmental Concerns
The strike highlights the growing volatility in the Black Sea. Maritime experts have long warned that the use of unregulated "shadow" vessels poses significant environmental risks due to their poor maintenance records and lack of standard insurance.
While Ukraine has not released details regarding potential casualties among the Dashan’s crew, the use of explosive naval drones against laden oil tankers marks a high-stakes evolution in the conflict.
Russian officials have not yet commented on the status of the Dashan, though Moscow typically condemns such incidents as acts of terrorism.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the captu...
Swiss police have confirmed that all 40 victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana have now been identified...
Myanmar’s military junta has granted amnesty to more than 6,000 prisoners nationwide as the country marked its 78th Independence Day, local media re...
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon threats to take over Greenland, following comments he ma...
Residents in Catia La Mar, near Caracas, say homes were damaged or destroyed during a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicol...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.
Swiss police have confirmed that all 40 victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana have now been identified, with more than half of those killed being teenagers.
Myanmar’s military junta has granted amnesty to more than 6,000 prisoners nationwide as the country marked its 78th Independence Day, local media reported on Sunday.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon threats to take over Greenland, following comments he made in an interview with The Atlantic.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has warned that the Russia-Ukraine war is now threatening trade in the Black Sea.
Teenagers as young as 14 and 15 years old were among those who died in the bar fire on New Year's Eve that killed 40 people in Switzerland, police said on Sunday.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korea and Japan, as regional diplomacy and security concerns remain in focus.
The United States launched an overnight military operation in Venezuela and captured its long-serving President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said, pledging to place the country under temporary American control and signalling that U.S. forces could be deployed if necessary.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday to discuss the U.S. operation in Venezuela.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (4 January) that the United States could carry out further military action in Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said Washington now effectively controls the country.
Swiss police have confirmed that all 40 victims of the New Year’s Eve fire at a bar in the mountain resort of Crans-Montana have now been identified, with more than half of those killed being teenagers.
Myanmar’s military junta has granted amnesty to more than 6,000 prisoners nationwide as the country marked its 78th Independence Day, local media reported on Sunday.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to abandon threats to take over Greenland, following comments he made in an interview with The Atlantic.
Residents in Catia La Mar, near Caracas, say homes were damaged or destroyed during a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with authorities reporting an unspecified number of deaths.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment