From December 3 to December 5 2025, Ukraine ramped up pressure on Russia’s shadow oil fleet through long range naval drone strikes and fresh intelligence releases. Ukrainian sources noted successful attacks on sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea as well as estimates for more than 1,240 vessels acting as sanctions evasion networks in Russia - raising state, environmental and compliance costs across the rest of world shipping.
Ukrainian forces targeted Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea on December 1-3, 2025, damaging vessels and disrupting Russian oil exports. The strikes, involving Kairos and Virat tankers respectively, threaten to affect maritime warfare tactics affecting global energy markets and sanctions enforcement.
Russia's shadow fleet continues on its rapid growth path since 2022; now representing approximately 17% of total tanker capacity. Artificial intelligence analytics, multisensor fusion new detection methodologies to counter evasion methods - AIS spoofing and false flag procedures.
Ukrainian naval drones targeted two sanctioned Russian tankers of the shadow fleet, MT Kairos and MT Virat, as Kyiv aggressively expanded its campaign against Russia's sanctions-evasion shipping network. The two vessels were attacked on November 28-29th 2025.
Mediterranean Shipping Company hit unprecedented milestone in November 2025, with capacity of 7 million TEU, first carrier to reach this mark. Expansion followed acquisition of 470 pre-owned vessels but, due to security issues and fuel shortages suspended Mali services temporarily; December freight rates show significant increases across all major base trade lanes.
Kairos and Virat, both sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers were rocked by explosions near Turkey’s coast on November 28-29th 2025, with Ukrainian forces claiming they were behind the attacks using naval drones; all crew were subsequently evacuated after the incidents and act is a demonstration of increased maritime warfare of Russia’s oil targets.
November 2025 saw developments such as NATO’s MET Workshop more focused on digitalization than ever, Philippines’ MET conference first time ever held paperless, U.S. Navy Reserve prepares for wider responsibilities with readiness exercises, Singapore launches new energy training facility.
Two Gambian-flagged oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, were attacked by Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea between November 28 and 29, 2025. Both vessels, presenting as an EU and UK sanctioned shadow fleet for transporting Russian oil, were struck by naval drones in what can be described as the second round of attacks against Russian vessels in the Black Sea by Ukraine's SBU security service.
Between 25 November and 1 December 2025 the maritime domain witnessed 18 critical incidents from drug interdictions, to migrants and boat people being rescued, piracy attack vessels, explosion against tankers off Senegal and in Black Sea, and major drug seizures and boat people crises in Mediterranean and Turkish waters. Notably, explosions against tankers off Senegal and in the Black Sea, alongside crises affecting those coming through Euro waters due to crisis migration.