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Russian oil tankers belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” have begun installing nets, metal structures and rubber tires on their vessels to protect against Ukrainian drone attacks. Strikes on the tankers threaten Russia’s oil exports, which remain a major source of revenue for the Kremlin, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Since August, Russian oil tankers have been passing through Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait from the Black Sea almost daily. Nets, metal cages, rubber tires and other improvised anti-drone defenses can now be seen on their decks and hulls. The structures resemble the extensive netting used to cover buildings and roads in Ukrainian frontline cities.
The Wall Street Journal analyzed photographs of the vessels provided by Istanbul-based maritime analyst Yoruk Isik. According to his data, at least 60 tankers fitted with anti-drone protection have passed through the Bosphorus since August.
Isik, who runs the Bosphorus Observer consultancy, photographed the vessels. Almost all of them are under sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western countries over their transportation of Russian oil.
Metal cages were initially installed on Russian and Ukrainian military vehicles to protect them against small drones, particularly remotely operated FPV drones. Similar structures have also been used by the Israeli military in recent years to defend against FPV drones deployed by Hezbollah and militants in the Gaza Strip.
Military analysts who examined the images for the WSJ believe the nets are being installed hastily to protect the tankers’ most vulnerable components, including their engines. Another defensive measure involves suspending rubber tires from the deck around the engine and rudder. These measures are intended to prevent drones from striking the vessels and disabling them.
“This is another striking piece of evidence that Russia’s fleet has lost control of the Black Sea. For Russia, earning foreign currency is under serious threat,” Isik said.
The WSJ notes that attacks on Russia’s shadow fleet give Ukraine additional leverage in its defense against the Russian invasion. At the same time, oil tankers are likely less well protected than Russian military facilities, many of which have already strengthened their defenses against drone attacks.
The strikes on tankers are also part of Ukraine’s broader campaign to exert economic pressure on Russia. Ukrainian forces have additionally targeted oil refineries and data centers in an effort to restrict Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
The shadow fleet is also a weak point in Russia’s financial system. Its aging tankers operate outside international insurance and maritime transport rules and are often insured and financially supported by Russian state-controlled banks.
The WSJ also notes that Ukraine has previously reported attacks on Russian tankers using surface-based naval drones. Military analysts say the shadow fleet is now trying to defend itself against another threat: medium- and long-range aerial FPV drones. They believe this reflects a shift in the nature of the threats facing Russian vessels.
The installation of nets and metal structures suggests that the Black Sea is becoming increasingly dangerous as a result of the war.
“This is going to be a global trend. It’s the cheapest and easiest way to protect a ship from drones,” said Samuel Bendett, an analyst specializing in military robotics at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), referring to the nets and cages.
In early October, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on eight vessels that Russia plans to use in a new shadow fleet transporting liquefied natural gas. London said the restrictions were intended to reduce Moscow’s revenue for financing its war against Ukraine. The broader package included 31 measures.
