Coordinated Naval Drone Attack Targets Russian Shadow Fleet
Two Russian-operated tankers have been engulfed in flames after suffering what appears to be a sophisticated coordinated drone attack by Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea. The dramatic incidents occurred on Friday, 28 November, marking another escalation in the maritime dimension of the ongoing conflict.
According to official sources, the attacks were carried out by a joint operation involving the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and Ukraine's naval forces. The strikes demonstrate Kyiv's growing capability to project power in the strategically vital Black Sea region despite Russia's naval superiority.
Dramatic Rescue Operation Saves All Crew Members
The first vessel, identified as the Kairos tanker, was sailing empty towards the Russian port of Novorossiysk when it was struck approximately 28 miles (45 kilometres) off the coast of Türkiye. Turkish maritime authorities confirmed the ship caught fire due to what they described as an "external factor."
In a separate but related incident, another tanker named Virat was reportedly hit about 35 nautical miles offshore in the same region. The coordinated nature of the attacks suggests careful planning and execution by Ukrainian forces.
Remarkably, all 20 crew members aboard the Kairos were successfully rescued by Türkiye's rescue units. The Directorate General for Maritime Affairs announced the successful operation on social media platform X, providing some relief amid the dramatic escalation.
Growing Pattern of Maritime Attacks
Visual evidence from the scene showed dramatic orange flames and thick, billowing black smoke rising from the stricken vessels following the impacts. The attacks represent the latest in a series of Ukrainian strikes against Russian shipping and naval assets in the Black Sea.
The targeting of vessels belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" - ships used to circumvent international sanctions on Russian oil exports - indicates Ukraine's strategy to disrupt Moscow's economic lifelines. These sophisticated drone attacks demonstrate how naval warfare has evolved to include unmanned systems capable of striking hundreds of miles from shore.
As the conflict continues, such incidents highlight the expanding battlefield beyond land borders into international waters, creating new challenges for regional security and commercial shipping in the Black Sea region.
