Published On 30/11/2025
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Last update: 03:13 (Mecca time)
Ukrainian drone boats targeted two oil tankers in the Black Sea, in an attack that Kiev said targeted Russian oil export operations. For its part, Türkiye condemned this incident and said that it occurred within its exclusive economic zone.
A Ukrainian security service official said that drone boats hit the two oil tankers, “Kairos and Virat,” as they were heading empty to the Russian port of Novorossiysk to load oil intended for foreign markets.
He also published footage showing speedboats approaching the two tankers before strong explosions caused fires to break out on board, stressing that the two ships had effectively been out of service and that the attack represented a “major blow” to Russian oil transport operations.
For months, Ukraine has been intensifying its attacks on Russian oil facilities, including refineries and supply lines, using long-range drones.
Kiev said that the attacks are part of efforts to disrupt the so-called “Russian shadow fleet”, a network of hundreds of old, not clearly registered ships, which are used – according to Ukraine – to enable Moscow to export oil and bypass Western sanctions imposed since its comprehensive invasion in 2022.
London Stock Exchange data shows that the Kairos and Virat tankers are already on international sanctions lists.
In a separate incident, the Caspian Sea Pipeline Consortium – which transports more than 1% of the world’s oil – announced the cessation of its operations after a berth at a Russian station was damaged following an attack by Ukrainian boats, and Kazakhstan described the targeting as “unacceptable.”
Scenes documenting a Ukrainian attack targeting two oil tankers belonging to the Russian Shadow Fleet in the Black Sea#video pic.twitter.com/isCfcFnCIv
– Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) November 29, 2025
Ankara’s concern
Türkiye expressed its concern after confirming that the two tankers were attacked within its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, considering that such incidents “pose serious risks to the safety of navigation, lives, property, and the environment.”
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Kaçali said in a statement on the “X” platform that Ankara is in contact with the concerned parties to prevent the war from spreading to the entire Black Sea, and to protect Turkish economic interests and maritime activities.
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure also stated that the Kairos tanker – which is 274 meters long – suffered an explosion and fire while sailing from Egypt to Russia, and rescue boats were able to evacuate its crew members.
The Ministry also reported that the Virat ship was subjected to two separate attacks, one of them on Saturday morning, which led to minor damage to its right side above the waterline, confirming that its condition is stable and that its crew is fine.
Ilhami Aktash, the governor of Turkish Kocaeli, said that 25 members of the Kairos crew were evacuated after a fire broke out 28 miles from the Black Sea coast, explaining that the incident targeting Firat occurred outside Turkey’s regional borders.