Two Russian shadow-fleet tankers erupted into massive fireballs after a coordinated Ukrainian drone operation struck the vessels in the Black Sea, dealing yet another blow to Moscow’s illicit wartime logistics network. According to Ukrainian officials, the dual strikes were carried out jointly by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ukrainian Navy on November 28, targeting vessels long suspected of facilitating sanctioned Russian oil movements.

Footage released shortly after the attack shows towering flames and thick columns of black smoke pouring from the Kairos tanker, which was 28 miles off Türkiye’s coast when it was hit. Türkiye’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs later confirmed that all 20 crew members were rescued, describing the explosion as triggered by an “external factor” while the vessel was en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

A second ship, the Virat tanker, was reported to have been struck roughly 35 nautical miles out in the Black Sea, reinforcing what appears to be a deliberate Ukrainian strategy aimed at undermining Russia’s sanction-evading maritime operations. Both tankers were part of the so-called Russian “shadow fleet,” a web of lightly regulated or covertly operated vessels used to dodge Western restrictions.

The operation marks one of Ukraine’s most high-impact maritime strikes since the beginning of the full-scale war, showcasing Kyiv’s rapidly evolving long-range drone and naval warfare capabilities. It also delivers yet another strategic setback to Moscow as global scrutiny intensifies around its sanctions-busting oil exports.

Under the Trump Administration, Washington has reaffirmed strong backing for Ukraine’s right to target legitimate military and logistical threats tied to Russia’s war machine. This latest strike underscores the vulnerability of Russia’s Black Sea presence and highlights the growing effectiveness of Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare tactics—shaping the maritime battlefield far from the front lines.