Ukrainian Naval Drones Target Putin's Shadow Fleet
In a dramatic escalation of maritime warfare, Ukraine has struck two Russian oil tankers from Moscow's so-called 'shadow fleet' using advanced naval drones. The coordinated attacks occurred late on Friday afternoon in the Black Sea, with both vessels hit in quick succession off Turkey's coastline.
The targeted ships - identified as the Kairos and Virat - were described as part of Russia's shadow fleet by the OpenSanctions database, which monitors organisations involved in sanctions evasion. These vessels have been crucial to Moscow's efforts to circumvent international restrictions imposed following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey Condemns Attacks in Economic Zone
The Turkish government has expressed strong condemnation of the drone strikes, which occurred within its exclusive economic zone. Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli stated that the attacks 'posed serious risks to navigation, life, property and environmental safety in the region'.
In a social media statement, Keceli revealed that Ankara is engaging with 'the relevant parties' to prevent the conflict from spreading across the Black Sea and to safeguard Turkey's economic interests. Turkish vessels provided immediate assistance to both stricken tankers, with crews seen battling fires aboard each ship.
Remarkably, all crew members from both vessels were reported safe despite the ferocity of the attacks. The Kairos was struck in the south-west area of the Black Sea, while the Virat was hit in a central area further east.
Peace Talks Proceed Amid Military Escalation
Even as Ukraine intensifies its attacks on Russian shipping, Ukrainian negotiators are flying to the United States for crucial peace discussions. The delegation is scheduled to meet with top Trump administration officials in Florida this weekend to advance efforts towards ending Russia's invasion.
The Ukrainian team includes Andrii Hnatov, head of Ukraine's armed forces; Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister; and Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine's security council. They are expected to sit down with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
These talks come at a particularly sensitive moment for Ukraine, following the resignation of President Zelensky's powerful chief of staff, Andrii Yermak. Yermak had previously served as Ukraine's lead negotiator with the US until his home was searched by anti-corruption investigators last week.
The discussions will focus on revisions to Trump's proposed 28-point peace plan, which had initially drawn criticism for being too favourable to Russian interests. The original framework envisioned Ukraine ceding the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, imposing military size restrictions, blocking NATO membership, and requiring elections within 100 days.
President Zelensky stated that the American side was 'demonstrating a constructive approach' and expressed optimism that 'in the coming days it is feasible to flesh out the steps to determine how to bring the war to a dignified end'.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's successful naval strikes represent a significant escalation in capabilities. Previous missions had been largely confined to the northern Black Sea, indicating a substantial increase in Ukraine's operational range. The attacks form part of Kyiv's broader strategy to target the financial resources fuelling Putin's war machine, particularly Russia's oil exports which continue despite comprehensive sanctions.
