Two Russian oil ships (tankers) were attacked by underwater drones (Sea Baby) in the Black Sea on Saturday. Ukraine has claimed responsibility for the attack. Both ships are considered part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” They carry Russian oil under the flags of different countries to evade sanctions. The first ship, “Viraat,” was hit by an explosion on Friday and was attacked again on Saturday. Turkiye reported minor damage to the ship, but everyone on board was safe. The ship was about 30 miles off the Turkiye coast. The second ship, “Kairos,” caught fire after the attack. The 25 people on board were safely evacuated. Both ships flew Gambian flags but were carrying Russian oil. At the time of the attack, the crew of the Viraat made a mayday call on open-frequency radio, repeatedly saying, “This is Viraat. Help needed! Drone attack! Mayday, mayday, mayday!” Photos of the attack… Ukraine claims the ships are unusable, Russia suffered damage. According to Ukraine’s security agency, the operation was carried out jointly by the SBU and the Navy, and both ships were damaged beyond their usefulness. They claim this will significantly impact Russia’s oil supply. Russia has yet to comment on this. CNN, citing sources, reported that both attacks were well-planned and involved the use of underwater and surface drones. The ship caught fire after the attack. Viraat previously operated under a different name and was banned by the US and the European Union in January 2025. Later, the UK and the European Union also banned it. Turkey’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said that signs of external impact were found on the ship, suggesting a mine, rocket, or naval drone attack. Following Friday’s attack, Viraat’s 20 crew members were safely evacuated, while all 25 crew members of the Kairos were rescued. was also rescued. Both attacks occurred outside Turkiye’s territorial waters, so Turkiye is only assisting with the rescue operations. Virat, a master of evasion, was part of Russia’s shadow fleet. Virat (M/T Virat) is a crude oil tanker considered part of Russia’s “shadow fleet.” This ship is primarily used to transport Russian oil to Asian and other markets, evading international sanctions. It was built in 2018. To avoid Western sanctions imposed following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war, Russia resorts to ships that frequently change names, flags, and owners. It currently sails under the flag of Gambia. Previously, it operated under the flags of Barbados, Comoros, Liberia, and Panama. In January 2025, it was sold to a Chinese company. These ships operate with their AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders turned off, making them invisible to radar and surveillance systems. This helps to track their movements. It becomes difficult to track. —————————
