Ukraine’s SBU says it targeted Russian “shadow fleet” tanker VIDEO

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it carried out strikes against a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Black Sea and three oil storage facilities in Russia’s Stavropol Krai.

According to the SBU, the operation targeted the Avero tanker, which Kyiv says was involved in transporting Russian crude oil during the period when the G7 and European Union oil embargo was in effect. The agency said the vessel had been used to ship Russian oil, including to China and India.

The SBU said its maritime drone, known as “Mamai,” carried out the operation against the tanker, which is under Ukrainian sanctions. Kyiv has accused Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of helping Moscow bypass international restrictions on oil exports and generate revenue to support its war effort in Ukraine.

“This is already the fourth Russian ‘shadow’ tanker targeted by the SBU in the last ten days. All of these vessels belong to the Suezmax class—large-capacity ocean-going tankers used to transport significant volumes of oil and petroleum products,” the SBU said in a statement.

The agency did not provide further details on the extent of damage caused to the tanker or the oil facilities. 

By Sabina Mammadli