Ukrainian forces have targeted a sanctioned Russian-linked oil tanker in the Black Sea, in a move that signals a widening campaign against Moscow’s covert energy export network.
Ukraine’s General Staff said the vessel, identified as the MARQUISE, was struck by two kamikaze drones launched by a naval unit while operating off the coast near Tuapse in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
The tanker, flying a Cameroonian flag, is believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a network of ageing and often untraceable vessels used to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports.
According to Ukrainian officials, the ship was sailing without an active automatic identification system (AIS) signal at the time of the strike and was likely waiting to receive cargo via ship-to-ship transfer, a common tactic used to obscure the origin of oil shipments.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
The vessel has previously been sanctioned by multiple jurisdictions, including the UK, EU and Canada, over its alleged role in transporting Russian-origin petroleum products through opaque shipping practices.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has said such vessels play a critical role in sustaining the Kremlin’s war effort by enabling continued energy revenues despite international restrictions.
The strike comes amid a broader escalation in Ukraine’s long-range campaign against Russian energy infrastructure.
Overnight, drone attacks were also reported on oil facilities in the Russian regions of Perm and Orsk, with Ukrainian security services claiming responsibility for a strike on a key oil pumping station linked to pipeline operator Transneft.
Russian authorities said dozens of drones had been intercepted across multiple regions, though local officials confirmed that fires broke out at industrial sites following the attacks.
Kyiv has increasingly focused on targeting energy assets, both on land and at sea, arguing that such strikes are aimed at undermining Russia’s ability to finance and sustain its military operations.
The latest operation highlights Ukraine’s growing capability to project force beyond the battlefield, targeting not only infrastructure within Russia but also the maritime networks underpinning its oil exports.
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