Russian Oil Tankers Covered in Nets to Block Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Russian oil tankers and port terminals covered with protective nets to evade Ukrainian drone attacks have been spotted.

The British daily Financial Times (FT) released photos on the 12th (local time) showing Russian oil tankers covered in netting and metal cages.

The photos were captured by Yörük Işık, a maritime transport analyst in Turkey.

Işık stated that the Russian oil tanker Caruso, which is subject to sanctions by the European Union and the United Kingdom, passed through the Bosphorus Strait and exited the Black Sea on the 11th covered in nets.

Photos taken by him show that netting has been installed on the sides of the Caruso's bridge.

The roof of the bridge can be seen covered with a cage.

The bridge is a structure protruding above the deck that allows the captain to control or command the vessel.

Another Russian oil tanker, the Lizvel, which is also under Western sanctions, was seen navigating the Sea of Marmara, south of Istanbul, Turkey, covered in nets, according to Işık.

While it is widely known that Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, has installed nets on roads and other locations to evade drone attacks, such scenes have not been captured at sea until recently.

The FT analyzed that while the nets and metal cages installed on Ukrainian roads and other areas were elaborately set up, those installed on Russian oil tankers appear to be makeshift.

The FT added that satellite imagery and other sources show that other defensive structures along with netting have been installed around the naval base at the port of Novorossiysk on the Russian Black Sea.

This naval base is where the Russian Black Sea Fleet is stationed.

Samir Madani, co-founder of maritime intelligence firm TankerTrackers, said, "Not only did the crew of the Russian oil tanker Caruso cover the bridge with nets, but they also went inside the nets themselves," adding, "The fear [felt by the crew] is real."

Previously, U.S. Vice President JD Vance requested during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late July that Ukraine halt drone attacks targeting oil tankers in the Black Sea.

Vance's request reportedly stemmed from concerns that Ukraine's attacks on Black Sea vessels could destabilize the international crude oil market and harm U.S. companies as well.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.