Second Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russian Fleet; Fuel Tanker Targeted

Moscow and Kyiv reported on Saturday, August 5, that a Ukrainian maritime drone equipped with explosives targeted a Russian oil tanker near the Crimean Bridge, which connects Russia to the Crimean Peninsula. This marks the second attack of this kind in the past 24 hours. Another drone attack on Friday, August 4, targeted a Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, damaging a warship. According to Reuters, a Ukrainian intelligence source stated that the drone, carrying 450 kilograms of explosives, struck the 'SIG-SIG' vessel, which was transporting fuel for the Russian army in Ukrainian territorial waters. He mentioned that the tanker was full of fuel and that 'fireworks' could be seen from a distance. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian official appointed in the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine, stated that this tanker was carrying oil for Russian forces in Syria. The United States had sanctioned this tanker and its owner, the 'Transpetrochart' company based in St. Petersburg, in 2019. Vasyl Maliuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, did not directly confirm Ukraine's role in the recent attack but stated that any attack on Russian ships or the Crimean Bridge is 'a completely logical and effective action against the enemy.' He said in his Telegram message that 'such special operations were conducted in Ukrainian territorial waters and were completely legal.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had mentioned last week that 'the war is gradually reaching into Russian territory,' referring to 'symbolic locations as well as Russian military bases,' deeming this 'fair.' Meanwhile, Russian officials in Crimea reported that no one was harmed in this attack, but traffic on the Crimean Bridge and maritime transport were halted for several hours. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a referendum that was not recognized by most countries worldwide. According to Reuters, Andriy Ryzhyenko, a retired captain and adviser to the Ukrainian Navy, estimated that Ukraine's maritime drones traveled 740 kilometers from their probable launch area to Novorossiysk, indicating a significant increase in their range. He added that this was the first time Ukrainian naval drones had such range. On Saturday, Ukraine warned that six Russian ports in the Black Sea—Anapa, Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, Tuapse, Sochi, and Taman—are in a 'war zone.' Since exiting the UN-mediated grain export agreement last month, Moscow has bombarded Ukrainian ports. Russian attacks on the port city of Odesa left one dead. Zelensky and NATO Secretary-General are negotiating the resumption of the 'grain export agreement.' Russian attacks on southern Ukrainian ports have left at least 18 injured. The Russian Defense Ministry reported another drone attack by Ukraine on Crimea, and Russian officials reported a 'state of emergency' on the Crimean Peninsula bridge with two fatalities.