The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) reported damage to the Russian “shadow fleet” tanker FINA A on the night of June 17 in the Black Sea.
According to the Marine Traffic service, the vessel FINA A, flying the flag of Equatorial Guinea, was traveling from the Indian port of Vadinar to Novorossiysk.
As noted by EAN, the IMO identification number 9283306 mentioned in the report appears in the UK sanctions list as the tanker Buddha. The vessel is also under sanctions from the EU, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine.
“The target was successfully hit. The extent of the damage is being assessed,” the AFU General Staff stated. “The tanker was used to transport crude oil and petroleum products in the interests of the Russian Federation in circumvention of international sanctions.”
According to specialized tracking maps, the tanker is currently located near Novorossiysk. The extent of the damage has not been reported.
The AFU, according to the General Staff, also attacked facilities used to support military logistics and the movement of personnel and equipment between Russian-occupied territories in southern Ukraine. In particular, the targets included a bridge over the North Crimean Canal near the settlement of Stavy and a bridge near the village of Voynky in the Kherson region.
Russia has not yet commented on the reports of the attack on the vessel and other targets.
Ukraine has previously attacked sanctioned tankers in the Black and Azov Seas. In early June, Ukrainian forces reported strikes on four cargo ships and one tanker, resulting in the deaths of six Azerbaijani citizens.
Additionally, according to available information, Ukraine has decided to impose sanctions and seek the arrest of executives of companies that regularly transport Russian oil and are already subject to international sanctions
