The Black Sea is getting more dangerous by the day.
Ukraine may be losing the war, bogged down by corruption scandals, and under pressure to give up territory and NATO ambitions – but they still pack a mean punch against civilian targets.
Yesterday (29), Ukrainian naval drones hit two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea, inside the Turkish economic zone, leading its Foreign Ministry to condemn attacks.
The cargo ships are said to belong to the ‘Russian shadow fleet’, and were reportedly headed to a Russian port to load up with oil destined for foreign markets.
Reports say the crew is Russian, but the ships are in fact Chinese civilian vessels flying the flag of Gambia.
The Kairos is owned by Alafia Trading Ltd from Shanghai, and the Virat by Glory Shipping HK LTD from Hong Kong.
Reuters reported:
“The two oil tankers, identified as the Kairos and Virat, were empty and sailing to Novorossiysk, a major Russian Black Sea oil terminal, the official at the Security Service of Ukraine told Reuters.
Naval drones could be seen speeding towards hulking tankers followed by powerful explosions that caused fires on the vessels, video footage shared by the official showed.”
Ukrainian forces released videos of the operation against the two oilers Kairo and Virat in the Black Sea which tried to reach the Russian coast.
The message is clear:
If you are a shipowner trying to get Russian oil, expect that you will lose your whole ship. pic.twitter.com/Zg91DqbKmZ
— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) November 29, 2025
Black Sea vessel Virat under ATTACK, all crew are Russian — Anatoly Shariy
2 attacks have occurred so far, the crew are awaiting evacuation and are in DANGER
Turkish Coast Guard observed the vessel but fled after the 2nd attack https://t.co/EblC9G2eNF pic.twitter.com/xgbWcSFcQI
— RT (@RT_com) November 29, 2025
“The 274-meter-long tanker Kairos suffered an explosion and caught fire on Friday while en route from Egypt to Russia, Turkey’s Transport Ministry said. The crew was evacuated by rescue boats while efforts to extinguish the fire continued, it said.
The Virat was reportedly struck some 35 nautical miles offshore, further east in the Black Sea, the ministry said. That ship was attacked again on Saturday by unmanned vessels, sustaining minor damage to its starboard side above the waterline, the ministry added. It said the vessel was in stable condition and the crew in good health.”
Russia condemns Kiev’s TERROR ATTACKS on tankers and Novorossiysk port
‘Long-demoralized Ukrainians trying to demonstrate yet another illusory “victory” against backdrop of a front bursting at the seams’ https://t.co/feBHMW7p1f pic.twitter.com/iugRjl8ptB
— RT (@RT_com) November 30, 2025
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