Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Tanker in the Mediterranean for the First Time
The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out its first successful airstrike on a tanker belonging to the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea, over 2,000 kilometers away from Ukrainian borders. The target of the special operation was the tanker QENDIL, which was used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions. According to the SBU, this vessel was identified as a fully legitimate target, as it played a key role in the logistics of Russian oil exports.
This is reported by AgroReview
Critical Damage to the QENDIL Tanker and Its Impact on Russian Oil Exports
At the time of the attack, QENDIL was not carrying any cargo, so the strike did not pose any environmental threat to the region. As a result of the special operation, the tanker sustained significant damage and is no longer usable for its intended purpose. Experts note that such attacks can complicate key routes for transporting Russian oil, which could significantly reduce export volumes and lead to decreased revenues for Russia.
“The shadow fleet of Russia transports about 3.7 million barrels of oil daily, accounting for approximately 65% of maritime exports, generating an annual profit of $87-100 billion.”
In response to the Ukrainian attacks, Moscow is already changing its oil transportation routes, using detours through the Black Sea. In particular, tankers have started moving along the coasts of Georgia and Turkey to minimize the risk of being hit by Ukrainian maritime drones. At the same time, Russian leadership, including Putin, claims that these attacks will not affect oil supplies, but promises to respond appropriately.
Ukrainian Attacks on Russian Military and Energy Infrastructure
The strike on the tanker in the Mediterranean is not the only successful operation by Ukrainian forces in recent times. Recently, SBU drones destroyed two Russian Su-27 fighter jets at the Belbek airfield in Crimea, causing damages estimated at around $70 million. Ukrainian military forces also struck a patrol ship of the “Okhotnik” project and an oil drilling platform in the Caspian Sea, as well as attacked one of the largest ammonia production plants in the world — “TolyattiAzot” in the Samara region of Russia.
In the Volgograd region, a key main gas pipeline “Central Asia – Center” has been put out of operation, through which Russia imported up to 12 billion cubic meters of gas per year. After 2022, this pipeline was used for reverse gas supplies from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to cover internal shortages, but now gas transit through this route has been completely suspended.