Ukraine hit two oil tankers hours before drones assaulted the terminal.
Russia’s major Novorossiysk terminal halts operations after sea drones strike around 4AM, local reports say.
Naval drones hit two tankers in the Black Sea only hours earlier, and Ukraine claims responsibility.
Tankers Suffer Heavy Damage in the Black Sea
Rescue teams conduct a large operation and save both crews through rapid action.
The Gambia-flagged Kairos explodes and burns 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk.
Officials report another strike soon after, this time on the tanker Virat, 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Authorities list both ships under international sanctions targeting vessels tied to Russia’s post-2022 crude trade.
Sanctions and Ukrainian Strategy Intensify Pressure
OpenSanctions notes the US sanctioned Virat in January, followed by the EU, Switzerland, the UK, and Canada.
The EU sanctioned Kairos in July, followed later by the UK and Switzerland.
A Ukrainian security official tells The Associated Press that Kyiv used domestic Sea Baby drones to hit tankers carrying oil worth over €60 million.
The official, requesting anonymity, says Ukrainian intelligence keeps taking steps to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war.
