Kyiv’s SBU Cripples Shadow Fleet Tanker in Black Sea; Ukraine’s War on Russian Naval Assets Intensifies
London-UK, December 12, 2025
Kyiv’s SBU Cripples Shadow Fleet Tanker: A Direct Hit on Russia’s Oil Dollar
In a powerful demonstration of its evolving naval warfare capabilities, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has successfully used sophisticated sea drones to strike and disable a massive oil tanker belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet in the Black Sea.
This brazen attack, which critically damaged the sanctioned vessel Dashan, marks the third successful maritime strike in just two weeks targeting the unregulated network of ships that Kyiv claims are helping Moscow circumvent Western economic sanctions and fund its protracted war.
The attack, deep inside Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone as the tanker was sailing toward a Russian oil terminal, solidifies a new, aggressive maritime front in the conflict.
The operation, which was carried out jointly by the SBU’s 13th Directorate of Military Counterintelligence and the Ukrainian Navy, utilized their domestically developed ‘Sea Baby’ maritime drones.
Video footage released by the SBU vividly illustrates the speed and stealth of the attack, showing the unmanned surface vessels (USVs) approaching the hulking tanker before a series of powerful explosions ripped through its stern.
This hit is a direct challenge to Russia’s naval dominance and underscores Ukraine’s determined strategy to choke off the Kremlin’s vital “petrodollar” revenues.
Headlines Points
Third Strike in Two Weeks:
The strike on the Dashan is the third successful drone attack on Russia’s illicit ‘shadow fleet’ in the Black Sea within the last fortnight.
Targeting Sanctions Evasion:
The Dashan is confirmed to be under multiple Western sanctions (EU, UK) and was sailing without its transponder, a common tactic for evading global tracking.
Sea Baby’ Drones Used:
Ukraine’s indigenous ‘Sea Baby’ naval drones were deployed in the joint SBU-Navy operation, inflicting “critical damage” on the vessel’s stern.
Economic Blow:
The disabled tanker, valued at approximately $30 million, can carry up to $60 million worth of oil per voyage, representing a significant loss to Russia’s illicit trade capacity.
Moscow’s Response:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously condemned such attacks as “piracy” and threatened to sever Ukraine’s remaining access to the Black Sea in retaliation.
The Anatomy of a Shadow Fleet Strike
The targeted tanker, the Dashan, was flying the flag of the Comoros Islands—a classic tactic of the ‘shadow fleet’ to mask ownership and jurisdiction.
Ship tracking data indicated the vessel was operating with its Automated Identification System (AIS) transponders switched off and sailing at maximum speed, attempts to conceal its presence and avoid detection.
This cat-and-mouse game has become standard for vessels participating in the sanctioned Russian oil trade, which often use ship-to-ship transfers at sea to further muddy the paper trail.
According to a source within the SBU, the attack caused “critical damage,” effectively taking the tanker out of service.
While no casualties were immediately reported, the economic impact is clear. Each successful voyage of the Dashan alone could have brought in tens of millions of dollars to the Russian state budget. An SBU official stated:
“The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce petrodollar revenues to the Russian budget…
this is the third tanker of the shadow fleet put out of action that had helped the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.”
This strategy focuses on increasing the cost and risk of doing business with Russia, making war insurance costs for the Black Sea skyrocket and forcing insurers to review policies daily.
Escalation and the Global Energy Market
The attacks mark a significant shift in Ukraine’s strategy. For months, Kyiv has focused its long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries and storage facilities far behind the front lines.
The move to directly targeting the maritime transport of crude oil and petroleum products, however, opens a highly volatile new front.
It places Russian merchant shipping at risk, creating a potential international crisis that could dramatically disrupt global oil flows if the attacks continue to escalate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, having previously dismissed these maritime drone operations as an act of “piracy,” has threatened to retaliate by cutting off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.
This rhetoric suggests a growing frustration in Moscow over Ukraine’s ability to project power into what Russia once considered its secure maritime domain.
The success of the SBU’s operations demonstrates that the indigenous ‘Sea Baby’ drones are evolving into a formidable weapon system, capable of striking high-value targets at considerable distances.
The strikes follow similar actions in late November against other sanctioned tankers, the Kairos and Virat, confirming a sustained, high-priority campaign against Russia’s energy financing network.
The attack comes at a sensitive diplomatic moment, as leaders of the ‘coalition of the willing’ nations are convening to discuss peace proposals.
By intensifying its economic warfare, Kyiv is sending a clear signal that any negotiated peace must address the mechanism by which Russia funds its military and that Ukraine will continue to apply maximum pressure on all fronts—land, air, and sea—until its security red lines are met.
