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Ukraine Attacks Two Russia-Linked Tankers, And Possibly Three

drone attack on tanker
Ukraine took responsibility for the tanker attacks and released a video showing the strike

Published Nov 30, 2025 12:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Multiple media sources are quoting Ukrainian officials saying they attacked the two sanctioned shadow fleet tankers off Turkey on Friday. Turkey had earlier reported that the fires were controlled on the two vessels, but one of the tankers was again attacked in the morning hours. Speculation had been growing over a possible attack by Ukraine using drones or mines. Separately, a Russia-linked tanker is reportedly taking on water and settling by the stern at a position off Senegal, raising the possibility of a third strike off Africa. 

Reports by CNN and Agence France-Presse are quoting Ukrainian security sources confirming that Ukraine orchestrated the attacks. They are saying a new form of the “Sea Baby” drone was used in the attacks and that it was done to further impact Russia’s oil trade. A video was posted online showing the strike on one of the tankers.

The available video footage shows small boats slowly nosing up to the stern, then detonating on contact. One strike on Kairos occurred on the port quarter just aft of the bridge wing. One (and perhaps two) strikes hit the Virat under the turn of the bilge in way of the engine room, an area easily accessible from the surface as the ship was in ballast.

The tanker Virat reportedly suffered “minor damage,” with Turkey’s Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure saying “an attack was carried out again on the Virat vessel in the morning hours.” Friday night, they reported that there was no fire or emergency on the tanker, which had been anchored north of Turkey in the Black Sea awaiting orders. Saturday, they are reporting minor damage on the starboard side of the Virat.

Turkey had dispatched a rescue boat to stand by the Virat. The Ministry reports, “Rescue teams are waiting at a safe distance from the vessel for security reasons.” The tanker is stable and has not requested an evacuation. The Ministry later announced that it had commenced a towing operation for Virat on Saturday afternoon, and the vessel is expected to reach Türkeli on Monday, December 1.

Teams worked through the night at the Kairos, the first tanker that was attacked, to control a massive fire on the vessel that resulted from an explosion. The Turkish Coast Guard said the 25 crewmembers were evacuated and handed over to medical teams. There was no mention of injuries.

As of Saturday night, the fire aboard Kairos was fully extinguished, and discussions were under way on arrangements for a tow. There was still a fuel oil leak emanating from the damaged tanker, according to Deniz Haber, and the ship was reportedly still adrift on Sunday because unspecified control system damage had rendered it unable to anchor. As the wreck is still in motion, responders have been unable to deploy a pollution containment boom. 

Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu had earlier told the media that they did not have any definitive information, but he suggested a mine, missile, marine vessel, or drone could have been involved. He acknowledged explosions on both tankers “caused by external interference.”

Earlier this year, there was a rash of unexplained incidents involving shadow fleet tankers. Several tankers were struck with what appeared to have been limpet mines attached to their hulls in Russia and in Italy. In June, a Greek-managed crude oil tanker suffered an explosion while it was anchored off the coast of Libya. No blame was placed for any of the incidents, but the speculation linked all the tankers to the Russian oil trade.

The two tankers struck on Friday are both reported to be owned by Chinese interests, and each has been sanctioned for its activity in the Russian oil trade. Both vessels report registry in Gambia, but the Equasis database lists their flags as “unknown” after the vessels were sold in 2025. 

Russia-linked tanker taking on water off Senegal

Separately, Turkish media reports and images on social media suggest that a Russia-linked, Turkish-operated tanker is taking on water in the engine room off the coast of Senegal. 

The tanker has been identified by Turkish shipping sources as the Mersin, a 50,000 dwt tanker belonging to Besiktas Shipping and flagged in Panama. Deniz Haber reports that it may have been hit by Ukrainian drones, though this could not be verified and Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for this particular incident. The extreme distance from the Black Sea would be operationally difficult for a Ukrainian drone boat strike, but achievable with a time-delayed limpet mine; an unintentional marine casualty could also result in similar effects. 

The Port of Dakar said in a statement that it received a distress call from the Mersin's crew overnight on the 27th-28th. The crew reported that there was flooding in the engine room due to a "technical incident on board." National authorities including the Senegalese Navy responded to the scene and the crew were all safely rescued, leaving the ship abandoned and adrift. 

The Port of Dakar added that its responders are deploying a pollution containment boom around the vessel. They are also looking at ways to seal the leaks, improve stability and offlload petroleum from the tanker.

AIS data provided by Pole Star Global shows that the vessel has previously called at multiple Russian ports in the Black Sea, including some as recent as August.