A Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel reportedly launched a guided missile during an attack on a Russian-occupied offshore gas platform in the Black Sea.
The Polish naval drone is similar in size to Ukrainian models and is equipped with a water-jet engine, remote control capabilities, and modern infrared cameras.
These ships carry large volumes of Russian oil and petroleum products from Russian ports in the Baltics, generating revenue that helps finance the war in Ukraine.
Security analysts say Russia is operating hundreds of vessels to get around the sanctions imposed on its oil exports over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The US has rejected a Canadian proposal to establish a task force that would tackle Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers, as the Trump administration re-evaluates its positions across multilateral organizations, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Navy, together with the developers of maritime drones, is working to create forces and means that will protect Ukrainian waters from the threat of maritime drones.
Three oil tankers have been damaged by blasts in the last month in separate incidents around the Mediterranean, with the causes unknown, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday.
