The oil tanker, sailing under the Liberian flag, was heavily damaged earlier this week by an explosion in the engine room while the vessel was south of Cyprus. It has since been towed to a port in Malta for inspection. The crew was unharmed, but the damage is significant.
According to Financial Times and Kyiv Independent, the explosion may have been the work of Ukrainian secret services. Western officials confirm that sabotage operations at sea are part of Ukraine’s repertoire. However, Ukraine has not officially commented on any involvement in the incident.
The ship recently called at Russian ports, including Novorossiysk, and was carrying a cargo of crude oil destined for Asian markets. This explosion marks the third similar incident within a few months.
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At the end of May, the tanker Sanar 15 was hit by an explosion in the Gulf of Aden, and on February 6, the Pablo suffered severe damage in the Indian Ocean. In all cases, the vessels were recently transporting Russian oil.
The European Union imposed an embargo on the import of Russian oil and gas in 2022 and implemented various sanctions. Nevertheless, Russian oil products continue to reach international markets through a complex network of intermediaries. This ‘shadow fleet’ frequently uses outdated ships, sails under flags of third countries, and employs complex ownership structures.
Oil revenues remain an important source of funding for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Both Pravda and Kyiv Post report that despite sanctions, the Kremlin continues to earn billions from the oil trade. This makes the tankers a strategic target in the economic struggle surrounding the war.
The explosions often occur shortly after visits to Russian ports or soon after the ships have transited sensitive regions. This fuels speculation that explosives may have been placed in advance, or that the operations are precisely executed by foreign services with access to intelligence.
Both Lloyd’s List and Financial Times point out that the repeated incidents are causing unease within the maritime sector. Tanker owners and shipping companies are taking extra security measures and reevaluating risks along routes previously considered safe. The uncertainty over who is responsible makes it difficult to implement appropriate countermeasures.