Zelensky: Ukraine Strikes Two Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers Near Novorossiysk

KYIV — Ukrainian forces successfully struck two Russian oil tankers at the entrance to the port of Novorossiysk, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday, continuing Kyiv’s campaign to disrupt Moscow’s ability to circumvent international sanctions on its oil exports .

In his nightly address, Zelensky detailed the operation, which he said involved drones or missiles striking vessels actively used to transport oil from Russia.

“Our warriors continue enforcing sanctions against Russia’s shadow oil fleet — they struck two such vessels at the entrance to the port of Novorossiysk. These tankers had been actively used to transport oil. Now they won’t be.”
— President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine

🎯 Targeting the ‘Shadow Fleet’

The strike targeted Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — aging tankers that operate outside standard international shipping regulations to avoid detection and sanction enforcement. These vessels use tactics such as:

• Disabling AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders
• Falsifying cargo documentation
• Conducting ship-to-ship transfers in international waters
• Using opaque ownership structures

The port of Novorossiysk, located on Russia’s Black Sea coast, is a critical hub for Russian oil exports, including both sanctioned crude and product shipments heading to markets in Asia and the Middle East.

The two tankers struck at the entrance to the port would have been either waiting to load or preparing to depart after loading. An attack at the entrance to the port is particularly difficult to execute, as it requires precision targeting to hit moving vessels, suggesting Ukraine used either:

• Maritime drones — unmanned explosive boats similar to those used to strike Russia’s Black Sea Fleet
• Long-range aerial drones — capable of striking moving naval targets
• Missiles — or a combination of systems

Ukraine did not specify which weapons were used.

📜 Enforcing Sanctions Through Military Means

President Zelensky has repeatedly characterized Ukraine’s long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure as “enforcing sanctions” — a framing that seeks to legitimize attacks on Russian territory as a form of international law enforcement.

That framing is not universally accepted. Russia and many non-aligned nations view the strikes as acts of war that broaden the conflict, while Ukraine’s Western allies have not explicitly endorsed the policy as consistent with international law. However, the US and UK have provided weapons and intelligence that enable such strikes.

The “shadow fleet” has been a persistent enforcement challenge. The EU and the G7 have imposed a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian crude, but the shadow fleet allows Russia to sell oil above that cap without using Western insurance or financial services, making sanctions difficult to enforce.

📉 The Impact on Russian Oil Exports

The strike on the two tankers may have a marginal impact on Russia’s ability to ship oil in the short term.

Russia’s oil exports have remained robust throughout the war, with buyers in India and China continuing to purchase discounted crude. However, the loss of two tankers will require Russia to reroute other vessels to meet contract obligations, potentially causing delays and increasing insurance costs for remaining shipments.

The strike is the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, including:

• Tuapse oil refinery — struck multiple times in April, destroying 24 storage tanks and causing massive fires
• Oil pumping station near Perm — struck on April 29, causing a massive fire
• Orsknefteorgsintez oil refinery — hit in Russia’s Orenburg Oblast
• Oil depot in Engels — struck by drones in April

These strikes are part of a widening campaign designed to cut off fuel supplies to Russian forces and reduce revenue from oil exports.

🔮 What Comes Next

The Novorossiysk strike indicates that Ukraine views maritime targets as a priority in its long-range campaign.

Ukrainian officials have stated they intend to continue targeting Russian oil infrastructure and the shadow fleet, part of a strategy to degrade Moscow’s ability to finance its war effort.

Russia has accused Ukraine of “state-sponsored terrorism” and called the strikes a violation of international law. The Kremlin has not yet commented on the Novorossiysk incident.

📋 Key Takeaways

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