MOSCOW, January 18 — The Ukrainian military announced it had struck 21 Russian oil tankers in a coordinated drone and missile attack, marking the largest single assault on Russian maritime assets since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The strikes, carried out on January 18, 2025, targeted vessels in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, including tankers near the port of Novorossiysk. Ukrainian officials confirmed the operation, code-named ‘Operation Neptune’s Trident’, involved over 50 drones and multiple Neptune anti-ship missiles.
According to the statement from Kyiv, the goal was to disrupt Russia’s oil export revenues, which fund its war effort. In response, Russia suspended all shipping traffic through the Kerch Strait, a critical waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
The strait provides access to the port of Mariupol and is the route for vessels to and from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. Russia’s Federal Agency for Maritime and River Transport confirmed the shipping halt, citing safety concerns.
Strategic and Economic Impact
The attack damaged an estimated 500,000 barrels of oil storage capacity, according to Ukrainian officials. The canal closure affects approximately 15% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports. Global oil prices experienced a temporary spike, with Brent crude rising 3% to $82 per barrel following the incident.
The Kerch Strait closure represents a significant disruption to Russian energy logistics. The waterway is a chokepoint for tanker traffic moving oil from Russian ports in the Black Sea to international markets.
The suspension of shipping through the strait effectively cuts off maritime access to the Sea of Azov ports, including Mariupol, which Russia captured early in the invasion.
Military Context
The coordinated drone and missile attack represents a new phase in Ukraine’s maritime campaign. The operation involved over 50 drones, suggesting a significant investment in unmanned systems, combined with Neptune anti-ship missiles, a domestically produced weapon that has previously been used to strike Russian naval targets. Ukrainian officials stated the strikes were designed to degrade Russia’s ability to generate revenue from oil exports.
The attack on 21 tankers in a single operation demonstrates an expanded capability to strike maritime targets at range, according to the statement.
What to Watch
The incident raises questions about the security of Russia’s maritime oil export infrastructure. The Kerch Strait closure, while described as temporary, could have longer-term implications for Russian oil shipments if Ukrainian forces continue to target tankers in the region. The damage to 500,000 barrels of storage capacity also represents a direct hit on Russia’s ability to store and process crude oil for export.
The spike in global oil prices, with Brent crude rising to $82 per barrel, indicates market sensitivity to disruptions in Russian oil supply. Approximately 15% of Russia’s seaborne oil exports transit through the affected area, according to officials.
The coming weeks will show whether Ukraine can sustain this level of maritime strikes and whether Russia can effectively protect its tanker fleet in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
