Ukrainian Security Service naval drones hit Russian shadow fleet tanker in Black Sea – video

Sea Baby naval drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) have struck the Dashan, an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, in the Black Sea.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the SSU

Details: According to the sources, SSU Sea Baby naval drones struck the Dashan, which is part of the Russian shadow fleet, in the Black Sea on 10 December.

The Comoros-flagged ship was sailing at full speed in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone towards the Novorossiysk port terminal with its transponder switched off.

Quote: "As a result of the attack, the tanker sustained critical damage. The video shows powerful explosions in the stern area. According to early reports, the vessel has been put out of action."

More details: This was a joint operation by the SSU's 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy.

The sources said a tanker like this is worth around US$30 million, and it would have carried about US$60 million worth of oil products on a single voyage.

The Dashan had been sanctioned by the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia and Switzerland for transporting Russian raw materials and high-risk navigation (with the identification system switched off).

A well-informed SSU source said this is the third shadow fleet tanker that has been put out of action after helping the Kremlin to bypass international sanctions.

Background: On 29 November, Ukrainian Sea Baby drones struck two sanctioned oil tankers, the Kairo and the Virat, in the Black Sea.

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