The warring parties confirmed that a sea drone from Ukraine carrying a large number of explosives hit a Russian oil tanker overnight in Crimea marking it the second assault from Kyiv in 24 hours, as both sides have opted to inflict maximum damage to each other.
There were no casualties reported in the aftermath however the Crimean Bridge and ferry transport were halted for hours, according to officials in Crimea.
A Reuters report suggested that the drone with 450 kg of explosives hit the SIG vessel as it transported fuel for the Russian military in Ukrainian territorial waters.
“The tanker was well loaded with fuel, so the ‘fireworks’ were seen from afar,” Reuters reported citing an intelligence source, of the joint operation by Ukraine’s navy and security service.
Kyiv said: “Destroying Russia’s military infrastructure inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine is crucial to its counteroffensive after the February 2022 invasion.”
On Friday, a drone from Ukraine also hit the Russian Navy navy base at Novorossiysk damaging a warship in the first attack by the Ukrainian navy so far from its shores.
An official of Ukraine’s southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia Vladimir Rogov said the SIG tanker had been supplying oil to Russian troops in Syria.
The United States imposed sanctions on the tanker and its owner, Transpetrochart, in 2019 for helping provide jet fuel in Syria.–Reuters
