Ukraine has struck a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea using aerial drones for the first time, officials confirmed on Friday. The Qendil tanker, reportedly empty at the time, sustained critical damage during the attack more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) from Ukrainian territory.

The strike coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual end-of-year press conference, highlighting Kyiv’s growing capability to target Russian oil shipments far from home waters.

Targeting Russia’s Shadow Fleet

The Qendil is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” a collection of unregulated vessels used by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to evade international sanctions and continue exporting oil. Ukrainian officials say these tankers help Moscow generate revenue to fund its ongoing war in Ukraine despite Western sanctions.

MarineTraffic tracking data showed the Qendil sailing off the coast of Crete, parallel to Libya’s coast, en route from India’s Sikka port to Russia’s Ust Luga port in the Baltic Sea. India remains a significant consumer of Russian oil, though U.S. pressure aims to curb its purchases.

A Long-Range, Multi-Stage Operation

The operation reflects a major escalation in Ukraine’s maritime tactics. As reported in Reuters, British maritime risk-management firm Vanguard described the strike as a “stark expansion of Ukraine’s use of uncrewed aerial systems against maritime assets associated with Russia’s sanctioned oil export network.”

The Ukrainian official noted that the attack involved “multi-stage measures,” though precise operational details were not disclosed. Earlier in 2025, Ukraine reportedly smuggled drones deep into Russia to destroy strategic bombers at air bases, demonstrating its growing long-range strike capabilities.

Part of a Broader Campaign

The Qendil attack comes amid a series of recent strikes on Russian oil infrastructure. Ukraine has targeted oil refineries throughout 2025, as well as oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. In December alone, drone attacks have hit three Black Sea tankers, while unexplained blasts have affected other vessels calling at Russian ports since late 2024.

Earlier this week, two crew members of the Russian-flagged Valeriy Gorchakov were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on the southern Russian port of Rostov-on-Don, underscoring the intensifying conflict over energy routes.