File image.
A Ukrainian drone boat hit and disabled a tanker alleged to be a part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” on December 10, Reuters reported, citing Ukrainian officials.
According to the officials, the tanker, identified as Dashan, came under attack as it sailed through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on its way to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
The tanker, which flies the flag of Comoros , was sailing at maximum speed with its transponders turned off and sustained critical damage during the attack, in which powerful explosions hit its stern, the official at the Security Service of Ukraine, more known by its acronym SBU, said.
Three Sea Baby-type suicide drone boats were used in the attack on Dashan, according to footage released by the SBU. Boats of this type typically have an operational range of around 1,000 kilometers, a speed up to 48 nautical miles, and could carry a payload weighing as heavy as 850 kg.
Notably, a RC-135W Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft of the Royal Air Force was flying over the Black Sea close to Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone when the Dashan was targeted. This suggests that the United Kingdom played a direct role in the attack.
Click to see full-size image. (Flightradar24/X)
This was the fourth such attack against a tanker with alleged links to Russia’s shadow fleet and the third to be claimed by the SBU.
On November 28, multiple suicide drone boats struck two Gambian-flagged tankers alleged to be a part of the shadow fleet, the Kairos and the Virat, off the coast of Turkey. Ukraine described the attack as a joint operation involving the SBU and the navy.
A third tanker, the Russian-flagged MIDVOLGA-2 tanker came under attack later on December 2, also off the coast of Turkey. The tanker, which was carrying sunflower oil, was targeted with aerial drones. Kiev denied any involvement in the attack.
The attack on Dashan indicates that Ukraine, likely with the support of the UK, is now waging a war on Russia’s shadow fleet, likely to make up for recent defeats.
In recent weeks, Kiev forces lost two three key cities, Pokrovks, Kupyansk and Vovchansk, and they are expected to lose two more, Myrnohrad and Siversk, before the end of the year. On top of this, Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on Russian territories became way less effective in recent months.
Russia slammed Ukraine’s tanker war, but has not yet responded in kind. The Russian military could easily shut down all Ukrainian ports, even target Ukrainian ships way beyond the Black Sea. However, Moscow appears to be giving a chance to the ongoing peace talks.
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where’s spideyman at? 😂
i frequently swallow mulatto jizz in my lgbt american trailer
they won’t win peace .the eu s insisting that russia’s a threat means they can make demands which will ensure russia won’t accept .and the popes justified their position already .do it’s ww3 on the way allegedly .a hundred years war .
so it’s ww3 on the way .
here the problem is the incompetence of the black sea admirals after 4 years of war, unable to find solutions.
mr putin has said that if it keeps happening ukraine will end up landlocked.
all or nothing
russia must take whole ukraine, or russia has lost.