Ukraine's SBU says Sea Baby maritime drones, used in a joint operation with the navy, struck and disabled the Dashan, a tanker linked to Russia's "shadow fleet," in the Black Sea. Video obtained by CNN shows explosions and heavy smoke from the vessel's stern; Russia had no immediate comment. The attack, reportedly the third on such tankers in about two weeks, aims to disrupt covert oil shipments that help fund Russia's war effort. Officials say details such as cargo and environmental impact remain unverified.
Sea Drone Strike: Ukraine Says It Disabled Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker in Black Sea
An image from video released Wednesday by Ukraine's security service shows a Russian oil tanker that was struck by a Ukrainian sea drone in the Black Sea. - Security Service of Ukraine
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said Wednesday it struck the Dashan, an oil tanker linked to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," in the Black Sea, disabling the vessel, according to an SBU official and a Ukrainian security source who spoke to CNN.
The source told CNN the attack was carried out jointly by the SBU and the Ukrainian navy using Sea Baby maritime drones. Video obtained by CNN shows a Sea Baby drone diving beneath the tanker, followed by a series of explosions in the stern and thick plumes of smoke.
The SBU identified the ship as the Dashan and said it was flying the flag of the Comoro Islands. Officials described the damage as "critical" and said preliminary information indicates the ship was disabled. There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities.
It was not immediately clear what cargo the vessel was carrying or whether the strike caused an oil spill. The SBU said the ship was moving at top speed through Ukraine's exclusive economic zone with its transponder turned off when it was hit and had been transiting toward the Novorossiysk oil terminal, a major Russian export hub.
Context And Strategic Aim
Russia has used a network of tankers, often sailing under various flags, to covertly move oil while evading Western sanctions. Kyiv has stepped up efforts to disrupt those shipments and reduce revenue that supports Russia's war effort. Last month, Ukraine struck one of the largest oil export facilities at Novorossiysk — an attack acknowledged by officials from both sides — signaling an escalation in Kyiv's campaign to target Russian oil infrastructure.
The SBU said this was the third attack on tankers linked to the "shadow fleet" in roughly two weeks, and that previous strikes delivered a "significant blow to the transportation of Russian oil." Independent verification of some details is limited, and many claims remain attributed to Ukrainian sources.
Wider Political Backdrop
The operation comes amid debate about battlefield momentum after U.S. President Donald Trump said Moscow had the "upper hand" in the invasion, comments that many Ukrainian and European officials disputed. Officials told CNN they had seen no new U.S. or European intelligence suggesting a decisive Russian victory is imminent.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said U.S. and Ukrainian delegations met virtually to discuss postwar reconstruction and economic recovery. Zelensky said the U.S. delegation included Scott Bessent, Jared Kushner and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and that discussions covered elements of a 20-point framework document for ending the war.
Note: Reporting on this incident relies largely on statements from Ukrainian officials and video obtained by CNN. Some details — including cargo, extent of environmental damage and independent confirmation of the ship's status — remain unverified.
