Russia hit in 'unprecedented' attack – 'Ukraine will strike them anywhere in the world'
A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Friday's attack was a "new, unprecedented special operation".
Ukraine's Security Service (SSU) hit an oil tanker belonging to Russian's shadow fleet for the first time in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Soldiers from the elite Alpha unit targeted the tanker Qendil using aerial drones, while it was sailing in waters off the coast of Libya - some 1,200 miles from Ukraine.
Dramatic video images show the vessel consumed by a raging fire, following the deadly attack. The attack is the latest on Russia' shadow fleet, which the Kremlin is using to circumvent western sanctions on the country's oil. Oil exports are a key source of income the Kremlin uses to finance its illegal and senseless war in Ukraine.
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READ MORE: Ukraine special forces launch attack on Russian shadow fleet in Mediterranean
⚡️❗️For the first time, Ukraine’s Security Service (@ServiceSsu) has struck a tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
— Special Kherson Cat ?????????????????? (@bayraktar_1love) December 19, 2025
The SSU’s elite Alpha unit targeted the tanker QENDIL (IMO 9310525) using aerial drones while it was sailing in… pic.twitter.com/gLG2aS6pn3
Previous attacks had targeted ships sailing in the Black Sea. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Friday’s attack was a “new, unprecedented special operation”.
They added that the cargo ship was empty at the time and no environmental threat resulted from the operation.
However, the SSU official refused to reveal how the drones reached the ship, but said the operation involved “multi-stage” measures.
The Qendil sustained "critical damage and cannot be used for its intended purpose," they said.
The tanker was being used to circumvent western sanctions and fund Russia’s war chest, they claimed, making it “an absolutely legitimate target”.
“The enemy must understand that Ukraine will not stop, and will strike them anywhere in the world, wherever they may be,” the source added.
The British maritime risk-management group, Vanguard, noted the attack "reflects a stark expansion of Ukraine’s use of uncrewed aerial systems against maritime assets associated with Russia’s sanctioned oil export network.”
Vladimir Putin vowed to respond to attacks on Russia's shadow fleet during his carefully scripted annual call-in show on Friday.
“Ultimately, this will not lead to the expected result,” he told the nation. “It will not disrupt any supplies, but will only create additional threats."
