The Security Service of Ukraine has carried out another successful special operation, fulfilling the President of Ukraine’s orders to systematically degrade russia’s military and economic potential. This morning, the SSU’s Sea Baby maritime drone struck the Blue tanker, which is part of the russian shadow fleet.

At the time of the attack, the vessel was near the temporarily occupied city of Yalta, within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone. The Sea Baby drone struck the tanker’s stern, causing significant damage. The enemy ship attempted to engage the SSU’s maritime drone, but without success.

The Blue tanker is subject to sanctions imposed by the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia and Ukraine for its involvement in transporting russian oil in circumvention of international sanctions. It belongs to the Suezmax class of large seagoing tankers used to transport significant volumes of oil and petroleum products.

Targeting shadow fleet vessels is part of the Security Service’s efforts to undermine the aggressor state’s economic potential. russia uses such tankers to circumvent international sanctions and reap billions in profits from oil exports, which it then uses to finance the war against Ukraine.

From the perspective of international law and the laws and customs of war, such vessels are legitimate military targets. Each successful strike against them reduces the kremlin’s oil revenues, increases the cost of russian military logistics, and weakens the adversary’s financial basis for continuing its aggression.