In Response to Ukraine’s Double Drone Strike on Russian Tanker, Moscow Vows Reprisal

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Late on Friday, Moscow responded with promises of retaliation following an attack by Ukrainian drones on a Russian tanker near Crimea in the Black Sea, marking the second such maritime assault of the day.

Earlier on Friday, Ukraine had targeted a major Russian port.

The Russian Foreign Ministry vehemently denounced what it referred to as a “terrorist assault” by Ukraine on a non-military vessel in the Kerch Strait, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressing her condemnation.

Zakharova stressed on the Telegram app that there was no way to excuse such savage acts, promising that those responsible would be held accountable and punished.

With Kyiv’s naval prowess expanding, the Black Sea is gradually becoming a focal point in the conflict.

Three weeks earlier, Moscow had pulled out of a vital export deal that had previously allowed Ukraine to sell millions of tons of grain across the Black Sea on international markets. Following this, Russia executed repeated strikes on various Ukrainian ports, including Odesa.

A Ukrainian Security Service official verified to The Big Big News that the agency was responsible for attacking the tanker, which was conveying fuel to Russian troops, using a sea drone filled with 450 kilograms (992 pounds) of explosives.

Russia’s Federal Agency for Marine and River Transport reported on Telegram that the “Sig tanker” was damaged near the waterline on the starboard side, most likely by the drone, but no crew members were injured.

However, according to Vladimir Rogov, a Kremlin-appointed official in Ukraine’s partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region, some crew members sustained injuries from shattered glass.

Vasyl Malyuk, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service, without directly blaming Ukraine for the assault, stated that such specialized operations within Ukrainian territorial waters were lawful, describing them as entirely logical and effective against their adversary.

The attack caused a temporary disruption in both the Kerch Bridge traffic and ferry transportation.

Tugboats were sent to assist the tanker, which has been subjected to U.S. sanctions for supplying jet fuel to Russian forces in Syria, as reported by Russia’s Tass news agency.

A strike earlier on Novorossiysk by Ukraine paused maritime movement for several hours, marking a first in targeting a commercial Russian port in the ongoing 18-month conflict. The port, about 60 miles east of Crimea, is essential for exports, boasting a naval base, shipyards, and an oil terminal.

According to shipping expert Jayendu Krishna, the attacks have had little impact on Russian shipping. He predicted the events might escalate the threat of Russian retaliation on Ukrainian ports, rather than pressuring Russia to cease its attacks or restore the grain agreement.

Krishna further suggested that the situation in the Black Sea might worsen, emphasizing that Russia was unlikely to back down unless they could conduct their banking and export activities without interruption.

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council, insinuated in a Telegram post that Russia might heighten its assaults on Ukrainian ports in reaction to Kyiv’s Black Sea offensives.

In further developments, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the capture of a settlement in the easternmost Luhansk region of Ukraine, while a two-day peace summit began in Saudi Arabia without Russia’s participation.

High-ranking officials from around 40 nations are gathering with the goal of laying down primary guidelines to bring the conflict to an end.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke positively about the summit, emphasizing the global impact of finding a peaceful solution. The main Ukrainian envoy to the summit, Andriy Yermak, expressed hope in an interview, highlighting that they stood on the side of truth and goodness.

Maria Zakharova, commenting on the Saudi Arabian talks, labeled the notion of resolving the conflict without Russia’s involvement as “absurd,” but acknowledged that delegates had the freedom to explore the issue creatively.

You can follow the ongoing coverage of the Ukraine war at https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine.

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