Ukraine struck two oil tankers hours before drones hit Russia’s Novorossiysk terminal.
Sea drones attacked the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal at around 4AM, local media reported.
Russia halted operations at one of its largest oil terminals following the overnight strike.
Tanker Assault Prompts Swift Rescue Operations
The Black Sea attack targeted two oil tankers off Turkey’s coast, Ukrainian forces claimed responsibility.
Coast guard teams rescued both crews after the explosions triggered a major emergency response.
The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk.
The second tanker, Virat, suffered damage 35 nautical miles off Turkey shortly after the first hit.
Authorities classify both vessels as part of Russia’s aging fleet used to bypass international sanctions.
Sanctions and Intelligence Drive Ukrainian Operations
OpenSanctions lists Virat under US sanctions since January, followed by the EU, Switzerland, the UK, and Canada.
Kairos faced EU sanctions in July, later followed by the UK and Switzerland.
A Ukrainian security official said Kyiv deployed Sea Baby naval drones capable of carrying oil worth over €60 million.
The official, speaking anonymously, emphasized Ukrainian intelligence continues disrupting Russia’s ability to finance war efforts.
