Drones attack three Greek-owned oil tankers bound for Russian Black Sea port

Drones have attacked three tankers owned by Greek companies, Reuters reported earlier today. According to the publication’s sources, the vessels were transiting the Black Sea en route to load oil at the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar Region.

Data from LSEG, the operator of the London Stock Exchange Group, show that the tankers Delta Harmony and Delta Supreme, operated by Greece-based Delta Tankers, were targeted, along with the tanker Matilda, operated by the Greek company Thenamaris.

The Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal exports not only Russian oil but also Kazakh crude, with Reuters noting that about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports pass through the terminal. According to sources cited by the news agency, Delta Harmony was scheduled to load oil from a facility operated by Kazakh oil producer Tengizchevroil, a joint venture 50% owned by U.S. energy giant Chevron.

The tanker Matilda, which was chartered by a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s state-owned KazMunayGas, was set to load oil from the Karachaganak field. A Thenamaris representative confirmed that Matilda was attacked by two drones while sailing in ballast about 48 kilometers (30 miles) from the port in Novorossiysk. The representative said the vessel’s deck sustained minor damage and that the tanker remained operational and was leaving the area of the attack.

The Russian pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber reported that Delta Harmony was also attacked near Novorossiysk. “The fire has been extinguished, there are no casualties, the vessel remains operational,” the channel said.

According to Starboard Maritime Intelligence data, Delta Harmony (IMO: 9408463) and Delta Supreme (IMO: 9585895) sail under the Liberian flag, while Matilda (IMO: 9407457) is flagged in Malta.

Since late November, a series of attacks have taken place in the Black Sea, including off the coast of Turkey, targeting tankers linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which is used to circumvent international sanctions on Moscow’s oil exports amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. On Jan. 7, the tanker Elbus (IMO: 9290385), sailing from Singapore to the port of Novorossiysk, was attacked by an aerial drone and an uncrewed surface vessel (USV).

Russia has blamed Ukraine for the tanker attacks. Multiple media outlets, citing sources in Ukraine’s Security Service, have reported that Ukrainian intelligence agencies were indeed behind the strikes, though Ukrainian authorities have made no official statements on the matter. However, in a late December statement outlining key operations in 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine included the following line: “Long-range strikes on oil refineries deep inside Russia reduced oil exports by more than 30% and also limited the capabilities of the enemy’s ‘shadow fleet.’”