On Friday, Ukraine announced that it had targeted a Russian tanker belonging to a “shadow fleet” using aerial drones in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This marks the first such attack in this region during the nearly four-year conflict.

This fleet, estimated to comprise around 1,000 vessels, often changes flags and has ambiguous ownership, allowing Moscow to continue exporting crude oil for essential revenue despite export restrictions.

Experts and various European leaders also suggest that some of these ships have been employed by Russia in carrying out hybrid warfare across Europe.

A representative from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) described the operation as a “new, unprecedented special operation,” marking Kyiv’s initial military engagement in the Mediterranean, approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) from Ukraine’s borders.

However, the representative did not disclose additional details about the operation, such as how the drone was deployed in the Mediterranean, the launch location, or which nations the drones may have traversed.

The SBU indicated that the cargo vessel was unladen during the operation and that there was no environmental risk associated with the attack.

It was reported that the tanker named QENDIL suffered “critical damage and is no longer fit for its intended use.”

The source indicated that this vessel was utilized to bypass Western sanctions and finance Russia’s military efforts, asserting that it was “an entirely legitimate target.”

“The adversary must recognize that Ukraine will persist in its actions and will strike them wherever they are in the world,” the representative emphasized.

Kyiv, defending against Russia’s invasion for nearly four years, has also claimed responsibility for similar attacks on vessels linked to Russia off the coast of Turkey in the Black Sea, following explosions that struck two empty oil tankers.