Ukraine attacked an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called ghost fleet in the Black Sea this Wednesday, according to an official from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
A Ukrainian source told CNN that Sea Baby maritime drones were used in a joint SBU and navy operation. It was the third attack on Russian tankers in two weeks.
Russia has used hundreds of oil tankers, under different flags, to clandestinely transport its oil to customers, defying Western sanctions.
The tanker Dashan, which flies the flag of the Comoros Islands, suffered “critical damage”, with preliminary information indicating that the ship was “unusable”, the source said. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
It was not immediately clear what the ship’s cargo was or whether the attack caused an oil spill.
The ship was sailing at full speed through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, with its transponder turned off, when it was hit, the SBU source said.
The ship was heading to Russia’s Novorossiysk port terminal, a major Russian oil hub, the source added.
The port was hit last month when Ukraine attacked one of Moscow’s biggest oil export facilities. The attack, acknowledged by officials in both countries, marked an escalation in Kiev’s efforts to target a key source of Russia’s war revenue.
“The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce oil revenues to the Russian budget,” the source said.
The Ukrainian military operation follows a similar attack on two Russian Ghost Fleet tankers in late November. The SBU said the attack was a “significant blow to Russian oil transportation.”
Trump assessment disputed
The latest Ukrainian attack came after US President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that Moscow has the “advantage” in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and that Kiev is “losing” the war.
Several Ukrainian and European officials contested Trump’s statements, although it is recognized that Ukraine’s position is difficult. There are no new assessments from the US or Europe that suggest there have been significant changes on the battlefield that indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces will soon triumph, officials told CNN.
Meanwhile, negotiations on a proposed US peace deal between Ukraine and Russia continue but have not achieved a breakthrough.
US and Ukrainian delegations met virtually this Wednesday to discuss plans for the reconstruction and economic development of Ukraine after the end of the war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X.
The U.S. delegation included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner; and Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, according to the Ukrainian leader.
“We discussed key elements for recovery, various mechanisms and visions for reconstruction. There are many ideas that, with the right approach, could be successful in Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
The Ukrainians also “updated our reflections on the framework document’s 20 points to end the war.” Zelensky thanked Trump and his team “for their substantial work and support”
