Vladimir Putin’s "shadow fleet" of ships has been struck by Ukrainian underwater drones, with two vessels suffering severe damage as dramatic fireballs tore through their hulls.
The critical blow to Russia’s war effort comes as officials from Kyiv travel to Washington DC for talks on ending the war with Russia.
Moscow’s secretive fleet comprises hundreds of ageing tankers operating under flags of convenience to circumvent Western sanctions imposed following the 2022 invasion.
They are chiefly used to secretly export oil around the world, helping keep Russia’s economy afloat and the war ongoing.
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Ukarine’s elite naval drone squadrons targeted two Gambian-flagged ships within the fleet, the Kairos and Virat, approximately 30 miles from Turkey's coastline on Friday.
The Virat sustained additional damage in a second assault on Saturday, with the attacks knocking both ships out of service.
Footage shared by Ukrainian security services captured the moment waterborne drones raced across the waves before exploding against the vessels, creating massive fireballs and plumes of dark smoke.
Turkish maritime authorities confirmed both tankers suffered critical damage, with the Kairos requiring firefighting tugboats to tackle extensive blazes on its open deck.
Ukraine has struck Russia's 'shadow fleet' with a naval drone assault
|REUTERS
The 275-metre Kairos, weighing nearly 80,000 tonnes, was forced to evacuate all 25 crew members following the explosion.
Ukraine’s strikes utilised Sea Baby naval drones, maritime weapons developed by Ukraine's SBU security service in collaboration with the navy.
Both targeted ships appear on international sanctions lists, with the Virat sanctioned by the US in January and subsequently by Britain and the European Union.
The Kairos faced EU sanctions earlier this year after departing an Indian port bound for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
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The strikes were a blow to Moscow's clandestine oil exports
|GETTY
Ukrainian forces also targeted infrastructure at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk overnight.
Underwater drones inflicted substantial damage to a mooring facility operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, prompting the company to halt loading operations.
Caspian Pipeline is jointly owned by Russia, Kazakhstan and Western energy giants including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell.
The crippling strikes to Moscow’s oil exports come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a high-level delegation was en route to the United States for continued negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed a delegation from Kyiv was en route to the US for talks
|GETTY
The team, headed by senior security official Rustem Umerov, is scheduled to meet US officials in Florida on Sunday.
Mr Umerov assumed leadership of the Ukrainian negotiating team following the departure of Mr Zelensky's former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
The former top ally of the Ukrainian leader resigned following a raid of his home by anti-corruption investigators.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's overseas envoy Steve Witkoff is preparing for talks in Moscow next week.
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