Ukrainian security forces have executed a precision naval operation against Russian oil transport capabilities in the Black Sea. According to an anonymous SBU official speaking to The Associated Press, domestically manufactured Sea Baby naval drones targeted two sanctioned Russian oil tankers—Kairos and Virat—in rapid succession on Friday afternoon. The operation occurred within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone near the Kocaeli province coastline.
The Gambian-flagged Kairos sustained significant fire damage in its enclosed areas, prompting the safe evacuation of all 25 crew members by Turkish rescue teams. The Virat, while reportedly struck in its engine room, did not require evacuation. Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu confirmed authorities received a distress call describing the incident as a ‘drone attack,’ though initial assessments considered multiple potential causes including mines or missiles.
Both vessels form part of Russia’s elaborate ‘shadow fleet’—a network of ships specifically designed to circumvent international sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. OpenSanctions database records indicate the Virat received sanctions from the United States in January 2023, followed by the EU, Switzerland, UK, and Canada. The Kairos was similarly sanctioned by the EU in July 2023, with subsequent restrictions from the UK and Switzerland.
Ukrainian intelligence officials emphasized this operation represents continued efforts to disrupt Russia’s financial capacity to wage war. The Sea Baby drones, which Ukraine recently unveiled as upgraded capabilities with extended Black Sea reach, reportedly disabled vessels capable of transporting approximately $70 million worth of oil. This strategic strike demonstrates Ukraine’s growing naval drone warfare sophistication while highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcing international sanctions against Russian energy exports.