(MENAFN) Ukraine has conducted attacks on two oil tankers associated with Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” as they navigated the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian authorities. Verified footage shows waterborne drones racing toward the vessels before detonating, sending flames and thick black smoke into the sky.

The targeted tankers, identified by Turkish authorities as the Kairos and Virat—both Gambian-flagged—were struck off Turkey’s coast on Friday, with the Virat reportedly hit again on Saturday. No injuries were reported. Observers view the strikes as a step by Kyiv to disrupt Russia’s oil revenues, which are crucial for sustaining its military operations in Ukraine.

The affected ships belong to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” a network of hundreds of older tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Kairos was hit in the southwest of the Black Sea, while the Virat was targeted further east. Both vessels are listed under international sanctions, according to market data.

The assaults were carried out using Sea Baby drones, a naval drone developed by Ukraine’s security services. Turkish authorities assisted the affected vessels, releasing footage showing Turkish boats attempting to extinguish the fire aboard the Kairos. Analysts suggest the strikes signal that Ukraine may directly target ships transporting Russian oil, not relying solely on Western sanctions.

Separately, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a major operator moving oil from the Caspian region, announced it had suspended operations at the Novorossiysk port in Russia following an unmanned boat attack that caused substantial damage to a mooring point. Russia and Kazakhstan are significant stakeholders in the consortium, which also includes Western firms such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and Shell.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Aibek Smadiyarov condemned the strike, describing it as the third incident of this kind. He stressed the importance of a “stable and uninterrupted” energy supply and indicated that the attacks had negatively affected Kazakhstan-Ukraine relations, urging Kyiv to take steps to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a delegation led by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, was traveling to the United States to continue negotiations on a potential peace agreement. Umerov will lead Ukraine’s delegation following the resignation of the previous negotiator, Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who stepped down after anti-corruption officials searched his residence.

The Ukrainian team is scheduled to meet US officials in Florida on Sunday, while US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to hold discussions in Moscow next week.

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