Ukraine says it hit sanctioned oil tanker near Russia’s Tuapse

Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on April 29 that a sanctioned oil tanker, MARQUISE, was struck earlier in the day in the Black Sea near Russia’s Krasnodar region, in an operation carried out by naval units using unmanned surface vessels.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the attack was conducted by a unit of the Ukrainian Navy using two maritime drone boats described as kamikaze-type unmanned vessels.

The vessel, sailing under the flag of Cameroon, has a deadweight of more than 37,000 tonnes and was reportedly not carrying cargo at the time of the strike.

Ukrainian officials said the tanker was drifting approximately 210 kilometres southeast of the Russian port city of Tuapse in the Krasnodar Krai. The ship had its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned off and was likely awaiting offshore loading from another vessel.

“The strike targeted the stern of the ship, specifically the propulsion and steering systems and the engine room,” the General Staff said in its statement.

The tanker MARQUISE is under sanctions imposed by multiple jurisdictions, including Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Switzerland, New Zealand and Canada. Ukrainian authorities allege that the vessel had been used by Russia to transport oil products in violation of international sanctions.

The extent of the damage to the tanker is still being assessed.

In its statement, the General Staff said Ukraine’s defence forces would continue taking “systematic measures” aimed at halting what it described as Russia’s armed aggression.

By Tamilla Hasanova