Ukraine attacked two Russian-sanctioned oil tankers just hours before drones hit a major terminal.
Sea drones struck the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal in Novorossiysk at about 4AM, local outlets reported.
The strike forced the terminal to halt operations, disrupting one of Russia’s largest oil export points.
Tanker Explosions Trigger Swift Rescue
The Black Sea attack came hours after Ukraine’s naval drones hit two tankers off Turkey.
Coast guard and rescue teams quickly saved all crew members from the damaged vessels.
The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded and caught fire 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli while traveling empty to Novorossiysk.
Officials report the second tanker, Virat, suffered hits 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Authorities identify both ships as sanctioned vessels that Moscow uses to bypass oil export restrictions.
Sanctions and Drone Strategy Target Russian Oil
OpenSanctions lists Virat as sanctioned by the US in January, then the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Canada.
Kairos received EU sanctions in July, followed by the UK and Switzerland.
A Ukrainian security official told the Associated Press that Kyiv employed Sea Baby drones to hit the tankers.
Each tanker could carry over €60 million in oil, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official added that Ukrainian intelligence actively works to reduce Russia’s financial ability to fund the war.
