The Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on April 29 that they successfully struck the sanctioned tanker Marquise using two unmanned naval vessels. The incident occurred approximately 210 kilometers southeast of Tuapse, Russia, while the tanker, flying the Cameroonian flag and with a capacity exceeding 37,000 tons, was adrift and not transmitting an AIS signal.
According to the military, the strike impacted the stern section of the vessel, specifically targeting the propeller-rudder assembly and engine room. The tanker is reportedly under sanctions from Ukraine, the UK, the EU, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada, and has been implicated in the illegal transportation of oil products.
The extent of the damage to the Marquise is still being assessed, as stated by the Ukrainian military command. There have been no independent confirmations of the attack, and Russian authorities have yet to respond to the claims made by the Ukrainian General Staff.
This operation is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to combat Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, which has been utilized to circumvent sanctions imposed on its oil industry following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Earlier this year, Ukraine introduced sanctions targeting 225 ship captains involved in exporting Russian oil products, including individuals from 11 countries such as Russia, India, and the Philippines.
The Ukrainian President’s Office noted that these captains were found to be operating vessels that were part of Russia’s shadow fleet, transporting oil in defiance of sanctions from the EU, G7, and other nations.
In late 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed responsibility for attacks on Russia’s shadow fleet, although specific vessels targeted were not disclosed. Previous incidents included strikes on tankers KAIROS and VIRAT near Turkey’s coast in late November, and another attack on the Russian tanker Midvolga 2 in the Black Sea on December 2. Reports also indicated that drones targeted the tanker Dashan in the Black Sea on December 10, and the tanker QENDIL in neutral Mediterranean waters on December 19.
Ukrainian forces have targeted the sanctioned tanker Marquise in a naval operation, striking its stern while it was adrift in the Black Sea. This action is part of Ukraine's ongoing efforts against Russia's shadow fleet, which has been circumventing international oil sanctions.