Russian Shadow Fleet Under Siege: Ukraine's Drones Strike Twice, Moscow's Revenue at Risk
Image Source: Internet
A Russian-linked oil tanker, Virat, issued a desperate 'mayday' call after being hit by Ukrainian unmanned naval drones in the Black Sea, in what Kyiv claims is a targeted effort to disrupt Moscow's 'shadow fleet' used to circumvent Western oil sanctions. The tanker, already damaged late Friday, was struck again early Saturday about 35 nautical miles off Türkiye's Black Sea coast, Turkish authorities confirmed. The crew's distress call, intercepted over open radio, captured the intense moment of impact. "This is VIRAT. Help needed! Drone attack! Mayday!" a crew member can be heard saying in the recording. Ukraine's security services say they have taken down two sanctioned tankers, Kairos and Virat, in quick succession. Both are flagged to Gambia and listed by Western governments for their role in transporting Russian crude in defiance of sanctions. Video released by Ukrainian officials shows sea drones racing toward the massive tankers before fiery explosions erupt. An SBU official stated that the coordinated operation aimed to undermine Russia's ability to fund the war: "Both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. This will significantly impact Russian oil transportation.
