3 Russian shadow fleet tankers attacked by drones near Turkey's Black Sea coast
The Kyiv Independent • • world
Key Points:
- Three Russian shadow fleet oil tankers—James II, Altura, and Velora—were attacked by drones in the Black Sea near northern Turkey on May 28, with no reported crew injuries, according to Tribeca shipping agency and Reuters.
- Russia's shadow fleet consists of aging, often underinsured tankers used to circumvent international sanctions on its oil trade, raising Western concerns about their involvement in broader hybrid activities such as espionage and drone operations.
- Ukraine has not commented on the attacks but has previously used long-range drones against Russia's shadow fleet in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, while urging international partners to enable seizure of these vessels to support European security.
- France and Belgium have actively targeted the shadow fleet, with France intercepting vessels multiple times in 2025 and Belgium collaborating with France in March to seize a sanctioned Russian oil tanker operating under the Guinean flag.