Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s shadow tanker fleet has intensified, with the suezmax Dashan the latest vessel struck by naval drones in the Black Sea — the third foreign-flag tanker disabled by naval drones in a month.
Ukraine’s covert operations agencies targeted the Dashan, a 2005-built, 165,000 dwt suezmax formerly linked to the Gatik Ship Management network and sanctioned by the EU, UK, Canada, Australia and Switzerland for suspicious Russian oil trades. The vessel, currently listed as stateless in Equasis and believed to be flying a false flag, was under way towards Novorossiysk when hit.
Multiple video clips circulating on social media appear to show two Sea Baby naval drones striking the tanker’s stern area in quick succession, both targeting the engine room space under the counter — a signature of earlier Ukrainian attacks designed to disable propulsion while avoiding spills. The Dashan, unladen and riding high in the water, was shown engulfed in smoke and flame, with the stern visibly settling.
Reports claim the vessel was travelling at full speed in Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone with its AIS switched off.
Preliminary assessments from Ukrainian sources suggest the Dashan suffered “critical damage” and has been put out of action.
Kyiv has made clear it is prioritising the disruption of Russia’s clandestine energy logistics, targeting ships and port infrastructure, a campaign that has seen war risk insurance leap in recent days for vessels heading into the Black Sea.