Two Russian shadow fleet tankers were struck by a Ukrainian naval drone in the Black Sea, while they were sailing empty to the Port of Novorossiysk, a major Russian oil terminal.

The tankers, named Kairos and Virat, sustained critical damage due to the attack.

They were to load oil designed for foreign markets, but would not be able to do so now as they have been taken out of service, per reports.

Video footage showed naval drones approaching the tankers, leading to explosions which caused fires onboard both vessels.

Ukraine has targeted Russian oil infrastructure for several months, using aerial drones. It has also urged the West to take action against Moscow’s ‘shadow fleet’, which helps it to export massive volumes of oil and fund its war against Ukraine.

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which handles over 1 per cent of the world’s oil, said that it stopped operations after a mooring at Russia’s Black Sea Terminal was damaged by a Ukrainian naval drone attack.

The 274 m long tanker Kairos caught fire on Friday while sailing from Egypt to Russia.

Crew members were saved by rescue boats while efforts to extinguish the fire continued.

Virat was struck 35 nm offshore and then attacked again on Saturday morning, damaging its starboard side above the waterline.

The crews of both ships were reported safe, and nobody sustained injuries.