Ukraine’s Mamai Drones Hunt Down Two Russian Oil Tankers in the Black Sea
The Ukrainian Security Service said its Mamai naval drones struck two Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea during a coordinated operation with the Ukrainian Navy.
In a statement released on the morning of July 16, the SSU said the targeted vessels were Louise 1 and Banda, both of which are under Ukrainian sanctions and allegedly involved in transporting Russian oil.
According to the SSU, Louise 1 was used to move Russian oil in violation of G7 and EU embargo restrictions. The agency said the tanker made voyages from ports in both the Baltic and Black Seas while sailing with its automatic identification system switched off. In 2026 alone, the vessel reportedly transported nearly 3 million metric tons of Urals crude oil.
The second tanker, Banda, was also identified by the SSU as part of Russia’s shadow fleet. Ukrainian officials said the vessel transported Russian crude oil from the ports of Ust-Luga, Kerch, Novorossiysk, and Nakhodka.
The SSU said Russian aircraft attempted to stop the attack by firing machine guns and dropping aerial bombs on the Mamai naval drones. However, video released by the agency appears to show that those efforts did not succeed.
Ukrainian officials say attacks on shadow fleet vessels are intended to cut into Russia’s oil export revenues, which Kyiv argues are used to finance the war against Ukraine.
The reported strike follows another recent maritime drone operation. Last week, the SSU said its Sea Baby naval drone struck the sanctioned tanker Blue in Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
The latest operation highlights Ukraine’s continued focus on using naval drones to pressure Russia not only on the battlefield, but also through the economic networks that support its war effort.
