Ukraine struck two oil tankers hours before drones attacked a major Russian terminal.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium halted operations after sea drones hit Novorossiysk around 4AM, local media reported.
The strikes follow Ukraine’s naval drone attacks on two Black Sea tankers off Turkey.
Tanker Explosions Prompt Rapid Rescue Efforts
Coast guard and rescue teams saved both crews after the attacks triggered emergency operations.
The Gambia-flagged Kairos exploded and caught fire 28 nautical miles off Kocaeli, sailing empty from Egypt to Novorossiysk.
Shortly after, the Virat suffered damage 35 nautical miles off the Turkish coast.
Authorities classify both ships as part of Russia’s shadow fleet that evades international sanctions.
Sanctions and Military Strategy Target Russian Oil
OpenSanctions reports the US sanctioned Virat in January, followed by the EU, Switzerland, UK, and Canada.
The EU sanctioned Kairos in July, later followed by the UK and Switzerland.
A Ukrainian security official says Kyiv deployed Sea Baby naval drones capable of hitting over €60 million in oil.
The official added that intelligence agencies continue actively targeting Russia’s financial resources for its war effort.
