Ukraine struck a Shadow Fleet Vessel crossing the Mediterranean Sea, in an Attack, that could Curtail Russia’s Fundraising for War. The Ukrainian Security Services (SBU) Claimed the Drone Strike on the Sanctioned Qendil Oil Tanker, which was some 2,000km Outside of Ukrainian Tterritory, and was left Critically Damaged. Video showed a Hexacopter Drone Smashing into the EU and UK Sanctioned Vessel off the Coast of Libya.
The First Strike in Mediterranean Waters could Discourage Buyers of Russian Oil carried on the Ageing Ships that make up the Shadow Rleet. An SBU Source told the Media that this “new, unprecedented special operation” was “absolutely legitimate” as the Tanker was used to “circumvent sanctions and earn money that went to the war against Ukraine”. They added that the Tanker, which was Heading West between Malta and Crete, was Carrying No Cargo at the time of the Strike, meaning there was No Risk of an Oil Spill.
The Oman-Flagged Tanker left Port Said in Egypt on Dec 16th, and turned back in that Direction following the Strike. Shadow Fleet Vessels, thought to Number more than 1,000, seek to Hide their Participation in Russia’s War Machine by Obscuring their Ownership and Flying the Flags of Other Nations.
Speaking at an Annual Year-End Press Conference in Moscow, Vladimir Putin vowed to Retaliate. “Another of our tankers in the Mediterranean has been attacked,” the Russian President said. But Hhe Claimed it would Not have the Desired effect of Disrupting Supplies, adding “in the end, [it] will only create an additional threat.”
Western Sanctions have had an Impact on the Amount of Oil Transported on Shadow-Fleet Vessels, but the Fleet continues to Grow. In an effort to Disrupt the Trade, Kyiv has Stepped-Up its Attacks on Shadow-Fleet Vessels, although Not All of them have been Officially Acknowledged.
Drone Bboats were used to Strike Tankers off Turkey’s Black Sea Coast, while a Ship near Senegal was recently Hit by Four Unexplained Explosions. “Despite the efforts of the Western sanctions alliance to disrupt Russia’s use of the shadow fleet, the Kremlin still continues to profit handsomely from the sale of oil,” said Tom Keatinge, Director of the Centre for Finance and Security, at the London-based Royal United Services Institute Think Tank. “It is therefore no wonder that Ukraine is taking matters into her own hands via more direct and permanent action.”
Operators of Shadow fleet Vessels will be Conscious of their Liability for any Oil Spills caused by Ukrainian Strikes, which could reach as far as the English Channel, Experts said.
A Spill in the English Channel is a “billion-dollar marine accident waiting to happen,” said Michelle Bockmann of the Maritime Data Company Windward. Even if they Carry No Fuel, the Sudden Loss of Ships bought for Millions of Dollars is another Risk for Operators. In addition, Countries that still Purchase Russian Fuel on Vessels that Skirt the Western Price Cap may now Think Twice, added Elisabeth Braw, a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a Washington-based Think Tank.
“If these vessels risk being sunk along the way, it may become just too risky to keep doing business with them, or to keep importing oil that travels on these vessels,” She said.
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