EditGreek tankers bolster defences near Russian ports amid mysterious blasts
The head of a UK-based maritime risk management company suggested Ukraine is being behind the attacks
Greek shipping companies operating at Russian ports are intensifying vessel security measures following a series of unexplained explosions targeting tankers linked to Moscow’s oil trade, according to six Greek shipping and security sources.
The heightened precautions, including underwater inspections by divers for foreign objects, come as Greek-owned tankers, part of the world’s largest fleet, continue to transport Russian crude, raising questions about their compliance with Western sanctions and their status as potential Ukrainian targets.
Western nations have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia due to its war in Ukraine, including a G7 price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian oil exports, a critical economic lifeline for Moscow. While much of Russia’s oil is now carried by an unregulated “shadow fleet,” shipping data confirms Greek-owned vessels are also involved, transporting Russian crude sold within the G7 price cap.
Greek shipping companies assert this trade is legal, as it adheres to the price cap, meaning these vessels are not breaking Western sanctions.
However, at least six tankers, including those with Greek operators, have been damaged by explosions this year near Russia’s Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga and Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, unsettling the industry. Security sources suspect limpet mines, attached magnetically to targets, caused some blasts, with three sources advising the industry pointing to possible Ukrainian involvement due to Kyiv’s opposition to Greek ships carrying Russian oil.
Ukraine’s military intelligence and security services declined to comment on these incidents.
To counter risks, Greek vessels are adopting measures like frequent position changes at anchorages to avoid predictability and heightened crew vigilance for suspicious activity, one Greek source said.
Remote underwater hull inspections are also under consideration, two other sources added.
No official investigation results have been released, but the incidents have raised concerns about sabotage.
On 6 July the Greek-operated Eco Wizard LPG tanker experienced blasts at Ust-Luga, with Moscow’s transport ministry reporting a minor ammonia leak and planning a diver inspection. Stealth Gas, the tanker’s operator, declined to comment, though sources suggested an explosive device was responsible.
Similarly, the Greek-operated Vilamoura was damaged off Libya’s coast last week, with TMS Tankers citing an external explosive device. Investigations into earlier incidents, such as the February blast on the Greek-operated Seacharm and another on the Seajewel, remain classified or without updates from Greek and Italian authorities.
Four of the affected tankers had Greek operators, and one was Cyprus-based, with four heading toward the Mediterranean after Russian port calls, marking a rare instance of such attacks on non-military vessels in the region.
Corey Ranslem, CEO of Dryad Global, noted that vessels linked to Russian ports face “increasing exposure to sabotage by state-sponsored actors or proxy groups” amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly in less secure areas like Libyan waters.
Ellie Shafik head of intelligence with UK based maritime risk management company Vanguard Tech suggested “Ukrainian state or state-aligned actors” may be behind some attacks, using limpet mines for precise, non-lethal sabotage to immobilize vessels.
Given that Greek tankers are operating within the G7 price cap and not violating Western sanctions, Ukraine would likely not consider them legitimate military targets under international law, which prioritises military objectives. However, Kyiv’s objections to their role in Russia’s oil trade suggest they could be viewed as strategic targets in Ukraine’s broader campaign to disrupt Moscow’s war economy, though such actions would carry legal and diplomatic risks.
The professional nature of the attacks, avoiding crew casualties, points to a calculated approach, likely intended to send a message without escalating to direct warfare.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: File photo. A Greek crude oil tanker ‘Birdie’ (L)unloads crude oil at a berth of a crude oil storage depot in Qingdao city, eastern China’s Shandong province. EPA/WU HONG
Updated: July 10, 2025 - 05:58
