Ukraine strikes Russian shadow fleet tanker in Mediterranean for first time


In an unprecedented attack, Ukrainian aerial drones struck a Russian shadow fleet tanker in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea, an official at Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) told POLITICO on Friday.

The SBU official said the drones hit the tanker Qendil more than 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, causing critical damage. The vessel was empty at the time of the strike, the official added. The official stressed the attack did not pose any threat to the environment in the region. According to the Marine Traffic website, the Oman-flagged tanker Qendil is currently in the eastern Mediterranean near Crete and en route to the Russian port of Ust Luga.

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Source: Politico News


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