August M
Waves pounded against the hull of a Comoros-flagged tanker as a Ukrainian Sea Baby drone swept beneath the vessel, moments before explosions tore through its stern.
The strike, captured in video obtained by CNN, marked the latest attempt by Kyiv to disrupt Russia’s covert oil trade.
Ukrainian security officials said the Black Sea operation was carried out jointly by the SBU and the navy, targeting a ship they described as a key link in Moscow’s “shadow fleet.”
Tanker disabled
According to a Ukrainian security source cited by CNN, the Dashan tanker sustained “critical damage” and was likely left “disabled.”
The vessel, travelling at full speed with its transponder off, was moving through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone en route to Russia’s Novorossiysk oil terminal — a major hub Kyiv struck last month in an attack acknowledged by both sides.
Russia, which has used hundreds of foreign-flagged tankers to skirt Western sanctions, issued no immediate comment.
Tightening the pressure
The SBU told CNN the strike was part of ongoing efforts to cut Russia’s oil revenues, saying operations against shadow-fleet tankers in late November had already dealt a “significant blow” to Moscow’s transport network.
It remains unclear what cargo the Dashan was carrying or whether the explosions caused any spill in the Black Sea.
Political cross-currents
The attack came a day after US President Donald Trump claimed Russia currently holds the “upper hand” in the conflict and that Ukraine is “losing.”
Multiple Ukrainian and European officials told CNN they disagreed with Trump’s assessment, noting that while Kyiv faces difficult conditions, no new intelligence suggests Russia is close to a decisive victory.
Meanwhile, talks over a US-backed peace framework continue without a breakthrough.
Postwar planning
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said delegations from both countries met virtually on Wednesday to discuss reconstruction plans for Ukraine.
The US team included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trump adviser Jared Kushner, and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
Zelensky said discussions covered ‘key elements for recovery’ and mechanisms to implement a 20-point framework for ending the war. He thanked Trump’s team ‘for their substantive work and support,’ reports CNN
Sources: CNN
