Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Ukraine has claimed responsibility for an attack that targeted two tankers reported to be a part of Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea, in what appears to be an attempt to sabotage the ongoing peace talks. The United Kingdom and the European Union, which view any peace agreement as a defeat, and the regime in Kiev, which is slowly collapsing under the weight of a major corruption scandal, appear to be the main beneficiaries of this reckless attempt.
The attack on the tankers, which took place on November 28, was the result of a joint operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, more known by its acronym SBU, and the Ukrainian Navy, a Ukrainian intelligence official told Reuters on November 29.
The first tanker, the Gambian-flagged Kairos, came under attack approximately 28 nautical miles off the coast of Turkey on November 29. Turkey’s Directorate General of Maritime Affairs said that two fast rescue boats, a tugboat, and an emergency response vessel were immediately dispatched to the scene and the 25 crew members on board were safely rescued.
The second tanker, Virat, was targeted for the first time shortly after while sailing about 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Rescue teams were quickly dispatched to the scene. However, they reportedly withdrew as the attack went on. As of November 29, the 20 personnel on board, all Russian citizens, were still trapped, although in good condition.
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Suicide drone boats from the Sea Baby-series were reportedly used to attack both Kairos and Virat. Four to five such drones were used in the attack on the latter. Boats of this type typically have an operational range of around 1,000 kilometers, a speed up to 48 nautical miles, and could carry a payload weighing as heavy as 850 kg.
Both Kairos and Virat are reportedly on a list of ships subject to sanctions imposed against Russia in response to the special military operation in Ukraine.
The SBU official who spoke to Reuters claimed that both tankers were empty and on their way to the port of Novorossiysk, a major Russian oil terminal.
“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.
The claims that both tankers were empty seems inaccurate, as reports from Russian media indicate that at least Virat is loaded to some extent. The cargo has not yet leaked, but an environmental catastrophe will likely unfold in the Black Sea if the tanker sinks.
Ukraine has shown complete disregard to the environmental safety of Turkey by attacking the tankers this close to its shores.
Even empty tankers still carry hundreds to thousands of tons of heavy fuel oil, and bunker sludge, in addition to oily residues.
The Ukrainian escalation didn’t end with the attack on the tankers. On November 29, an attack on the port of Novorossiysk was reported. Suicide drone boats damaged one of the port’s three mooring points.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which owns the terminal, said that it would resume operations when the drone threat was lifted.
“As a result of a targeted terrorist attack by unmanned boats at 4:06 am Moscow time (0106 GMT) single Mooring Point 2 (SMP-2) sustained significant damage,” the CPC said in a statement on Telegram.
“Further operation of SMP-2 is not possible. Loadings at the terminal will be carried out in accordance with established rules once the drone threats are lifted,” it added.
The scope of this attack goes beyond harming Russia. The CPC pipeline, which begins in Kazakhstan and ends at the terminal, is a major conduit for Kazakh oil and one of the world’s largest by volume, handling around one percent of global supplies.
Notably, these attacks came just a few hours after Andrii Yermak resigned from his position as the head of the Office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over a corruption scandal that shocked the entire regime in Kiev to its core in recent weeks.
The attacks also came right before a senior Ukrainian delegation was set to start talks on the peace process in the United States.
These facts indicate that the latest attacks were meant to sabotage the peace process, likely because some in Kiev believe that the regime could only survive if the conflict goes on.
While this is the first time Kiev has escalated its naval operations against Russia to this level, the UK and the EU have been attempting to provoke a naval conflict for months now.
In May, Estonia made a failed attempt to seize Jaguar, a tanker linked to the Russian shadow fleet, in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. Later in September, France managed to detain another tanker, Boracay, in the Atlantic Ocean near its shores, before releasing it later.
Amid these attempts, the UK and the EU more than once accused Russia of using the tankers to conduct hybrid warfare operations in NATO waters. Among these accusations was using the tankers to launch drones. Of course, no evidence backing these accusations was ever presented.
Now with the U.S. taking the lead in the peace process between Ukraine and Russia, the UK and the EU appear to be standing on the side.
This situation is especially critical for the UK. Britain’s strategic interest in controlling the Black Sea is a matter of global influence. Since the Crimean War of 1853–1856, London has viewed regional dominance as a means of containing Russia. Currently, instability in the Black Sea enables the UK to bolster its presence via NATO, escalate military aid to Ukraine, and undermine Russia’s role as a major player in the energy market. Sabotaging Russian oil tankers and attacking the port of Novorossiysk directly align with this goal by destabilizing one of Russia’s main export corridors and creating long-term risks for its economy.
Active escalation at sea is also closely linked to the diplomatic standoff. For the UK, a frozen conflict or a U.S.-initiated ceasefire would result in a loss of leverage over Russia and diminish its role as Kiev’s key ally. However, continuing hostilities allows London to maintain its status as Ukraine’s “main defender” within NATO and limits Washington’s increased diplomatic influence in Europe. Attacks on Black Sea infrastructure synchronized with peace talks are intended to derail potential compromises and reframe the conflict as a military one, in which Britain’s role remains critical.
While it is still unclear how the recent attacks were orchestrated, there is no doubt that the UK, the EU, and the Kiev regime, especially the dominant Zelensky-Yermak faction, are the main beneficiaries of the latest reckless attacks in the Black Sea.
For London and Brussels, a weakened, dependent Ukraine is the ideal instrument for long-term Russian weakness without direct military involvement. Therefore, even while launching irresponsible attacks off the coast of third countries, the Kiev regime continues to receive support. Western media uses each such attack to justify new sanctions and increased military supplies, creating a vicious circle of confrontation that benefits all participants in the anti-Russian alliance except the Ukrainian people.
Meanwhile, for the Zelenskyy-Yermak ruling faction, continuing the war has become a matter of political survival. Amid declining approval ratings, failed counteroffensives, and corruption scandals, only constant escalation enables them to maintain martial law, postpone elections, and secure new aid.
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zelensky needs to surrender to russia and get it over with