The Security Service of Ukraine has attacked a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, damaging the vessel QENDIL.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) carried out an unprecedented operation, attacking a Russian fleet oil tanker, QENDIL, in the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea, over 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine. The operation was conducted by the SBU's Alpha unit, which used drones to strike the vessel, which, at the time of the attack, was not carrying any cargo. The SBU emphasized that this oil tanker was used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions and finance the war against Ukraine, making it a legitimate target.

Following the attack, QENDIL suffered severe damage, becoming unusable. Previously, the SBU also attacked other Russian oil tankers, Kairos and Virat, in the Black Sea, as part of joint operations with the Ukrainian Navy. These actions underscore the intensification of Ukrainian attacks on the Russian fleet and associated infrastructure.