Ukraine hits tankers in Black Sea in escalation against Russia

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Ukrainian naval drones hit two oil tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" as they travelled through the Black Sea, Ukrainian officials have said.

Footage verified by the BBC shows waterborne drones speeding through the waves into the vessels, before detonating into a ball of flame, sending black smoke into the air.

The targeted tankers were named by Turkish authorities as the Kairos and Virat, both flagged to Gambia. Both were hit off the Turkish coast on Friday, with the Virat reportedly struck again on Saturday. No casualties were reported.
...
The two ships are reportedly part of Russia's "shadow fleet" - a term that refers to the hundreds of tankers used by Russia to bypass Western sanctions imposed after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9ky5z2gx0o

[Mustellus]

1. Both were riding high in the water....

a large band of red below the loaded water line visible. This means they were running empty, or nearly so.

Also, both were hit in the stern, where the engines and other equipment are, not in the oil tanks. So (mostly) enviromentally friendly warfare.

[SergeStorms]

2. But they won't be in service for a while.

Which will deprive Pootie of the petro-dollars he desperately needs to keep his war going. The more pain and suffering he experiences the happier I (and Ukrainians) are. 😁

[moniss]

3. The idea that this "shadow" fleet

is allowed to evade sanctions etc. is awful on the part of the West. Glad to see Ukraine put a good crimp in the program for awhile. They should absolutely send drones to take care of Putin's special luxury/secure railroad cars as well. Just think how much could be done if the US had an effective administration and controlling party in Congress.