Ukraine says it has attacked a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker with aerial drones 1,250 miles (2,000km) from its borders, within the first such strike within the Mediterranean Sea since Moscow’s full-scale invasion almost 4 years in the past.
Friday’s strike off the coast of Libya, which reportedly brought on vital harm, happened on the day of Vladimir Putin’s annual finish of 12 months press convention wherein he mentioned Russia would reply to latest Ukrainian assaults on shadow fleet tankers.
It got here amid an escalating maritime battle over the shadow fleet, a time period used to explain vessels utilized by Russia, Iran and Venezuela to evade sanctions with misleading practices.
Kyiv has beforehand focused Russian shadow tankers within the Black Sea because it has sought to interdict an essential income that’s getting used to finance Moscow’s unlawful invasion.
Estimated to comprise greater than 1,000 ships, which often change their flags and whose possession is unclear, the fleet has enabled Moscow to maintain exporting its crude oil for much-needed income regardless of the curbs.
Specialists and a number of other European leaders imagine some vessels have been utilized by Russia to conduct hybrid warfare throughout the continent.
Commenting on the most recent assault, Putin on Friday mentioned Russia would “positively reply” to Ukraine’s assaults on its so-called shadow fleet. “In the end, this won’t result in the anticipated outcome,” he mentioned. “It won’t disrupt any provides, however will solely create further threats,” he mentioned, with out instantly commenting on the most recent assault within the Mediterranean.
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