Drone hits a Russian-sanctioned tanker near the Kerch Strait
5 August, 2023 A Russian SIG tanker before being hit by a naval drone. August 2023. Freeze frame from the video
On the night of Saturday, August 5, in the Kerch Strait, a sea drone hit the Russian chemical tanker SIG. This was reported by Russian media. Also, a video that allegedly recorded the strike of a sea drone on the ship emerged on the Internet.
It should be noted that the Russian tanker SIG was under US sanctions for transporting fuel to Syria. According to NV, the damage to the tanker was the result of a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The special operation was carried out in the territorial waters of Ukraine near the Crimea occupied by Russians, near the Kerch Strait.
According to the sources in the special service, a surface drone with 450 kilograms of explosives was used to attack the Russian-sanctioned tanker. "Any "incidents" that take place with the ships of the Russian Federation or the Crimean Bridge is an absolutely logical and effective step against the enemy.
Moreover, such special operations are carried out in the territorial waters of Ukraine and are completely legal. So, if the Russians want the "cotton" to stop, they should take advantage of this only opportunity - to leave the territorial waters of Ukraine and our land. And the faster they do it, the better it will be for them," Head of the SSU, Vasyl Maliuk commented on recent attacks by naval drones on Russian ships.
The USV struck the vessel while it was on its southern approach to the Kerch Strait, about 30 miles offshore. The vessel was anchored. The SIG tanker, capable of carrying almost 5 thousand tons of fuel, sustained a hole in the area of the engine and pump room, which was completely flooded with water.
There was no oil or petroleum products on board. At the time of the strike, there were 11 people on the tanker, there was no information about the killed. Most of them have abrasions from broken glass.
Subsequently, the network published an audio recording on which, as alleged, the negotiations of the sailors of the Russian tanker were recorded.
On the record, the crew says that the ship is afloat, but cannot move independently.
Consequences of damage to the Russian tanker SIG, August 2023. Photo credits: Telegram/BAZA
A group of sea rescuers went from Novorossiysk to the area where the incident occurred to help the vessel. Russian Telegram channels also publish photos from inside the SIG tanker.
SIG chemical tanker.
Photo from open sources
The SIG chemical tanker was built in 2014.
She sailed under the Russian flag and, in particular, delivered aviation fuel from the temporarily occupied Crimea to Syria, for which the United States in 2019 added her to the sanctions lists.