Ukraine: The Latest - Kyiv strike on Russian oil tanker a "significant moment in the war"

Today on Ukraine: The Latest, we bring you the latest updates from Ukraine, report on the heavy fighting that continues across the front lines and analyse the Ukrainian strike on an oil tanker.

Foreign Correspondent James Kilner explains the story of a naval drone attack on an oil tanker off Crimea: 

This happened just before midnight on Friday.  

Ukraine is trying to undermine the Kremlin’s veneer of control, trying to bring the war home to ordinary Russians, and it ties in with their increased drone attacks on Moscow itself, and on oil installations and other industrial enterprises around Russia, which has been going on for a while now with drones.

Now this was a departure because this was the first attack on a so-called civilian ship in the Black Sea since the war started. Some grainy black and white footage showed the naval drone scouting for its target, finding its target and then smashing to the side of it.

Later pictures showed the cabin area; the ceilings had fallen in, the desk had been scattered, papers everywhere and there was water in one of the engine rooms. A Russian news agency said that Russia deployed two tugboats to tow this tanker into port because it had lost power. Now, the tanker itself is a really important target as it flies the Russian flag.

We know that it had previously been sanctioned by the U. S. in 2019 because it is one of the tankers that Russia has been using to supply jet fuel to its air force in Syria. It would pick up its cargo at one of Russia’s ports in the Sea of Azov, sail out through the Kerch Strait, across the Black Sea, through the Bosphorus, past Istanbul, into the Mediterranean, and then dock it in Syria.

 The analysts were saying this is a fair military target because it was once again carrying jet fuel to the Russian air force.

Assistant Comment Editor Francis Dearnley talks about the implications of this attack:

The attacks on shipping in the Black Sea are interesting; Ukrainian officials have also issued a notice to mariners using a series of Russian ports that they may be targeted for offensive operations. By one estimate, 30% of Russian oil exports leave from these ports. Significantly, there is insufficient pipeline infrastructure to transport all the oil China is buying, so ships are still used. Russia may be trying to starve the world via grain terrorism, but Ukraine appears to be attempting to cut off the oil exports that are still sustaining the Russian war machine.

Francis continues:

Wheat prices have climbed higher after Ukraine threatened a key export route for Russian commodities through the Black Sea. This matters for its energy markets, but it also matters for food: Russia moves most of its grain through the waterway and is in the midst of a second bumper harvest, making this a crucial time for getting crops to markets and ensuring enough supply to constrain global food costs. The chief executive officer of broker and adviser IKON Commodities, said: “The risk in the Black Sea is increasing by the day and any threat to Russian exports is much more potent than a threat to the Ukrainian export corridor.”

 Wheat futures in Chicago, the global benchmark, climbed as much as 3.4pc to $6.545 a bushel. Prices closed 1pc higher on Friday, paring most of a 4.3pc intraday gain after the Ukraine attack on the naval vessel. Traffic at the port was halted for several hours.

Listen to Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraph’s daily podcast, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday The Telegraph’s top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles - military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical - and tell you what you need to know to stay updated.

With over 40 million downloads, our Ukraine: The Latest podcast is your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. We have been broadcasting ever since the full-scale invasion began.

Ukraine: The Latest’s regular contributors are:

David Knowles

David is Head of Audio Development at The Telegraph, where he has worked for nearly three years. He has reported from across Ukraine during the full-scale invasion. 

Dominic Nicholls

Dom is Associate Editor (Defence) at The Telegraph, having joined in 2018. He previously served for 23 years in the British Army, in tank and helicopter units. He had operational deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland. 

Francis Dearnley

Francis is assistant comment editor at The Telegraph. Prior to working as a journalist, he was chief of staff to the Chair of the Prime Minister’s Policy Board at the Houses of Parliament in London. He studied History at Cambridge University and on the podcast explores how the past shines a light on the latest diplomatic, political, and strategic developments.

They are also regularly joined by The Telegraph’s foreign correspondents around the world, including Joe Barnes (Brussels), Sophia Yan (China), Nataliya Vasilyeva (Russia), Roland Oliphant (Senior Reporter) and Colin Freeman (Reporter). In London, Venetia Rainey (Weekend Foreign Editor), Katie O’Neill (Assistant Foreign Editor), and Verity Bowman (News Reporter) also frequently appear to offer updates.