In a significant development amid ongoing tensions in the Black Sea, Ukraine’s naval drones have reportedly targeted another Russian tanker. A source from Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service confirmed that the Dashan oil tanker, associated with Russia’s “shadow fleet,” was struck. This action is viewed in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russian aggression, which has been persisting for nearly four years.
This incident follows a series of similar attacks last month, where several Russia-linked tankers off the Turkish coast were targeted, resulting in explosions damaging two empty oil tankers. Those strikes prompted a critical response from Ankara, prompting Turkish officials to summon diplomats from both Russia and Ukraine. Turkey expressed concern that these drone strikes could signify a worrying escalation in hostilities within the region.
The Dashan, flagged under the Comoros Islands, was reported to have sustained “critical damage” due to the drone strike. As the conflict continues, Turkey attempts to navigate its relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv. The Bosphorus Strait, which Turkey controls, remains a vital passageway for transporting both Ukrainian grain and Russian oil to the Mediterranean, complicating the geopolitical dynamics of the ongoing war.
