Ukraine's Sea Baby drone slams into Russian shadow fleet tanker in Black Sea: Footage
Photo: Sea Baby drone (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
On the morning of July 8, Ukraine's Security Service carried out another successful special operation in the Black Sea, according to a statement from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Sea Baby drone hunts down Blue tanker
A Sea Baby naval drone struck the Blue tanker, which is part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet.
At the time of the strike, the vessel was operating near temporarily occupied Yalta, within Ukraine's exclusive economic zone, the SBU said.
"Sea Baby struck the stern of the tanker, causing significant damage to the vessel," the agency stated.
Russian aircraft attempted to destroy the naval drone but failed.
The Blue tanker is under sanctions imposed by multiple countries over its role in transporting Russian oil, including:
- the European Union,
- the United Kingdom,
- Canada,
- Australia,
- and Ukraine.
The vessel belongs to the Suezmax class of large oil tankers capable of carrying substantial volumes of crude oil and petroleum products.
Russia uses such tankers to circumvent international sanctions and generate billions of dollars in revenue to finance its war against Ukraine.
"From the standpoint of international law, as well as the laws and customs of war, such vessels are entirely legitimate military targets. Every successful strike against them reduces the Kremlin's oil revenues, increases the cost of Russian military logistics, and weakens Russia's financial capacity to continue its aggression," the SBU said.
On June 17, Ukraine's Defense Forces struck a tanker from Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea. The vessel was under sanctions imposed by the EU, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ukraine.
The SBU, together with other units of Ukraine's Defense Forces, also carried out strikes on an oil refinery, fuel terminals, and military facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea during the night of July 6.
