Ukrainian drones hit two Russian shadow fleet tankers in Black Sea

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), in cooperation with the Navy, has struck two tankers from Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" – the Louise 1 and the Banda – in the Black Sea using naval drones.

Source: SSU press service

Details: According to the SSU, the Louise 1 was transporting Russian crude oil in circumvention of the G7 and EU oil embargo.

The vessel was exporting oil from Baltic and Black Sea ports with its automatic identification system switched off. In 2026 alone, it has transported nearly 3 million tonnes of Russian Urals crude, Russia's main export oil blend.

The Banda was also used to transport Russian oil from the country's ports, including Ust-Luga, Kerch, Novorossiysk and Nakhodka.

During the attack, Russian aircraft attempted to destroy the naval drones using machine-gun fire and bombs, but were unable to do so, the SSU said.

Background:

• Ukrainian strikes on Russian vessels in the Azov and Black Seas have reached or even exceeded the intensity of the tanker war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.
• Additionally, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reportedly struck 20 vessels from Russia's shadow fleet near occupied Crimea on the night of 14-15 July.

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