According to Ukrainian forces, they have attacked a tanker of the so-called Russian shadow fleet in the Mediterranean for the first time.
According to Ukrainian forces, they have attacked a tanker of the so-called Russian shadow fleet in the Mediterranean for the first time. The target of the operation was the 249-metre-long crude oil tanker “Qendil”, which is said to have been severely damaged and put out of action. This was announced by the Ukrainian domestic intelligence service SBU.
According to the SBU, it was an “unprecedented special operation” that was carried out more than 2,000 km from Ukrainian territory in international waters. The operation was carried out by the special unit “Alfa”, using drones. Videos published on social networks are said to show explosions on board the tanker. Independent verification of the information is not yet possible.
According to Ukrainian sources, the tanker, which was flying the Omani flag, had no cargo on board at the time of the attack, meaning that there was no danger to the environment. According to AIS data, the ship’s last reported route ends southwest of the Greek island of Crete. The “Qendil” had previously sailed from the Indian port of Sikka and was on its way to East Luga in Russia.
The SBU justified the attack with the ship’s role in circumventing Western sanctions. Russia uses such tankers to continue exporting oil and generate revenue for the war against Ukraine. From the point of view of the Ukrainian secret service, the tanker was therefore a legitimate military target.
The attack is considered unusual, as Ukrainian operations to date have mainly taken place in the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea and against oil refineries and ports on Russian territory. An attack on a Russian ship in the Mediterranean has not yet been reported.
The so-called shadow fleet consists of mostly older tankers with non-transparent ownership structures that are registered under flags of convenience and operate outside of regular shipping practices. The aim is to circumvent Western sanctions and maintain Russian oil exports.
