In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against Russian energy exports, Ukraine launched a successful naval drone strike on the Russian oil tanker Dashan in the Black Sea on December 10, 2025. The attack, which occurred within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone, marks the third strike on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in just two weeks, according to sources in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and corroborated by multiple international news outlets including Reuters, CNN, and Business Insider.
The Dashan, a Comoros-flagged tanker valued at approximately $30 million, was en route to the Russian oil terminal at Novorossiysk when it was struck. According to the SBU, the vessel was traveling at maximum speed with its automatic identification system switched off—a tactic commonly used by Russia’s shadow fleet to evade detection and circumvent international sanctions. The ship’s transponder was off as it moved through the Black Sea, a detail confirmed by both Ukrainian officials and maritime tracking data reviewed by Reuters.
Video footage released by the SBU and verified by Reuters shows a Sea Baby naval drone diving under the Dashan, followed by a series of powerful explosions at the stern of the vessel. Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the rear of the tanker, with preliminary assessments indicating that the Dashan was critically damaged and likely put out of service. “The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce petrodollar revenues to the Russian budget,” an SBU official told Reuters. “Over the past two weeks, this is the third tanker of the shadow fleet put out of action that had helped the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.”
The Dashan had previously been sanctioned by the European Union, the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Switzerland for its role in transporting Russian oil while operating with its identification systems turned off. The SBU estimated that the tanker typically carried roughly $60 million worth of oil products on a single voyage. The shadow fleet, comprising hundreds of vessels flying various flags, is a key tool for Moscow to maintain oil exports and generate revenue despite Western sanctions imposed since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
This latest attack is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to disrupt Russia’s energy sector, which is a crucial source of funding for its ongoing war effort. Ivan Stupak, a former SBU officer, explained the rationale behind the campaign to the Kyiv Independent: “They are trying to scare tanker owners away from entering the Black Sea ports of the Russian Federation and from loading Russian oil there. It is a very lucrative business, and there are many who want to be in it.”
Ukraine’s campaign against the shadow fleet has intensified in recent weeks. On November 28, Sea Baby drones struck the sanctioned Russian oil tankers Kairos and Virat in the Black Sea off Turkey’s coast, disabling both vessels. Days later, Turkish authorities reported an apparent drone attack on the Russian tanker Midvolga-2, though Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry denied involvement and suggested Russia may have staged the incident. In addition to targeting ships at sea, Ukraine has also used naval drones to hit oil infrastructure on land. On September 24, Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s oil terminals in the Black Sea ports of Tuapse and Novorossiysk, “paralyzing” major export operations, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR).
“The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce the receipt of petrodollars to the budget of the Russian Federation,” a security source told Business Insider on Wednesday. The source, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the military operation, added that the strike was carried out in cooperation with the Ukrainian navy and shared footage captured by the Sea Baby drones showing multiple hits on the Dashan. “This attack marked the third such strike in less than two weeks targeting Russia’s shadow fleet vessels to disrupt the Kremlin’s oil export revenue,” the source said.
The impact of these strikes is being felt beyond the immediate loss of vessels. War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea have spiked, with insurers reviewing policies daily as the conflict spills into vital sea lanes, Reuters reported. The attacks have also prompted a sharp response from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly denounced the strikes as piracy, threatened last week to sever Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea in retaliation. “The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce oil dollar revenues to the Russian budget,” the Ukrainian security source reiterated, emphasizing Kyiv’s determination to cut off a key source of Russian war funding.
While Ukraine has long targeted Russian oil refineries and infrastructure with long-range aerial drones, the recent focus on maritime attacks represents a significant shift in tactics. By striking ships at sea, Ukraine aims to make the trade too risky for shipowners and insurance providers, thereby tightening the economic noose around Russia’s oil exports. The shadow fleet, which has been instrumental in moving Russian oil to global markets despite sanctions, now faces unprecedented danger in the Black Sea. “The three tanker attacks appear to reflect a new shift for Ukraine—one that now increasingly attacks ships at sea rather than just land targets,” Business Insider observed.
Despite the dramatic nature of the attacks, there was no immediate comment from Russian authorities regarding the Dashan strike. However, the incident has been widely reported and verified by independent maritime security sources and media outlets. Reuters was able to confirm the identity of the Dashan tanker in the video footage by comparing the deck, cranes, and structures with file imagery. The location and date were corroborated by the SBU source’s account and ship tracking data.
Since December 2024, there have been at least seven blasts on other tankers calling at Russian ports, at locations including the Mediterranean. Maritime security sources suspect Ukraine of carrying out those attacks using limpet mines, though Kyiv has not confirmed or denied any involvement. The ongoing campaign underscores Ukraine’s resolve to target every facet of Russia’s energy export infrastructure as the war drags on.
As Ukraine continues its efforts to disrupt Russian oil revenues—whether by targeting ships at sea or facilities on land—the risks for all parties involved are rising. The Black Sea, once a relatively stable commercial corridor, has rapidly become a high-stakes battleground, with consequences that ripple far beyond its shores.
