Ukraine has carried out its first aerial drone strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting a growing intensity in Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil shipping, officials said on Friday (19 December).
The vessel, the Qendil, was empty when struck in neutral waters more than 2,000 km (1,250 miles) from Ukraine, sustaining critical damage, according to an official from Ukraine’s SBU security service.
MarineTraffic data indicated the tanker was off the coast of Libya, en route to the Russian port of Ust Luga in the Baltic Sea from Sikka, India. The Ukrainian official did not disclose the exact location or timing of the strike.
Overhead footage provided by Kyiv showed a small explosion on the deck of the tanker.
Over 2024 and 2025, Ukrainian forces have attacked Russian oil refineries, and in recent weeks, Kyiv has expanded its operations to oil rigs in the Caspian Sea and sea-drone attacks on three tankers in the Black Sea.
These vessels, including the Oman-flagged Qendil, are part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—unregulated ships Kyiv says are helping Moscow export large quantities of oil and fund its war in Ukraine despite Western sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to cut Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea in response to these tanker strikes, calling the attacks “piracy.”
There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the latest Mediterranean strike.
Experts say the widening use of drones in Ukraine’s maritime operations demonstrates Kyiv’s ability to strike Russian energy targets far from its borders, increasing pressure on Moscow’s logistics and highlighting the growing significance of unmanned systems in modern conflict.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Poland on Thursday following a summit of the European Council in Brussels.
Russia’s latest attacks on Zaporizhia come as European leaders gather in Brussels to discuss the possible use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s war effort, while Washington explores parallel diplomatic channels with both Kyiv and Moscow.
A sweeping $901 billion defence policy bill has been approved by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, clearing the way for President Donald Trump to sign it into law.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futile. He made the comment during his evening address on Wednesday ahead of a key European Union summit focused on Moscow’s frozen assets.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin still intends to take control of all of Ukraine and reclaim parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet Union. These assessments contradict Putin’s repeated claims that he poses no threat to Europe.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached early next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
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