Ukraine attacked two Russian-linked oil tankers hours before drones hit a major oil terminal.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s Novorossiysk terminal halted operations after sea drones struck around 4AM, local sources reported.
The strike adds pressure to Russia’s shipping infrastructure in the Black Sea region.
Emergency Teams Respond to Tanker Explosions
Coast guard and rescue teams saved all crew members after the attacks triggered urgent operations.
The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded and caught fire 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk.
Soon after, Ukrainian drones struck the Virat about 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Authorities say both ships belong to Russia’s old fleet used to bypass sanctions on crude oil.
Sanctions and Drone Strategy Target Russia’s Economy
OpenSanctions reports the US sanctioned Virat in January, followed by the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Canada.
The EU sanctioned Kairos in July, followed by the UK and Switzerland.
A Ukrainian security official said Kyiv used domestically built Sea Baby drones to hit tankers worth over €60 million in oil.
The official, speaking anonymously, said Ukrainian intelligence continues to actively restrict Russia’s finances for its war efforts.
