Ukraine struck two tankers used by Russia to evade Western sanctions on oil exports in a joint operation conducted by the SBU security service and the Ukrainian navy, an SBU official confirmed on Saturday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the vessels as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" and said marine drones were used to target them in the Black Sea.

The tankers, identified as Kairos and Virat, were reportedly empty and en route to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, a key oil terminal on the Black Sea. According to the SBU official, both ships sustained "critical damage" and were effectively rendered inoperable.

"Video footage shows that after being hit, both tankers sustained critical damage and were effectively taken out of service. This will deal a significant blow to Russian oil transportation," the official said.

Explosions reported near Bosphorus Strait

On Friday, two oil tankers under international sanctions saw explosions on board off of Türkiye’s coastline, the country’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs said, prompting an emergency response from local authorities, Bloomberg reported.

The first vessel, the Kairos, suffered an explosion that ignited a fire on board, according to a local port agent, and the directorate confirmed the incident. Another explosion hit a second ship, the Virat, in nearby waters, with rescue and support vessels dispatched to both scenes.

The port agent’s initial assessment suggested the Kairos may have struck a mine. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, maritime authorities have warned of drifting mines in the region, and several commercial ships have been damaged in unexplained explosions.

Ukrainian forces attacked two Russian 'shadow-fleet' tankers (the VIRAS & KAIROS) in the Black Sea, just a few nautical miles north of Turkey. pic.twitter.com/AxsPsHiy6a

— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) November 29, 2025

It is worth noting that the Kairos, a Suezmax-class tanker, has been sanctioned by the UK and European Union for carrying Russian crude, though it is not blacklisted by the United States.

Vessel-tracking data showed it had recently completed a voyage from Russia’s port of Novorossiysk to Paradip, India, transporting Urals crude and was returning to Russia to load its next cargo. It was empty at the time of the explosion and sails under the flag of Gambia.

The Virat, also empty when it was struck, has been sanctioned by both the US and EU for its role in shipping Russian oil. It was added to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions list in January.