A tanker flying the Panamanian flag was reportedly severely damaged by a Russian attack on the Ukrainian port of Izmail.
The Excellion, a 7,842-dwt product tanker, was moored at the port’s eastern pier when Russian forces launched a series of drone attacks against its facilities.
According to Russian media and military channels, in addition to the tanker, the drones also struck critical port infrastructure, including the Triton oil depot.
Twenty drones were used in the operation, with at least 30 explosions recorded over a period of 90 minutes.
The tanker had arrived in Izmail the previous evening from Sulina, Romania, fully loaded with petroleum products. At the time of the attack, it was unloading.
Preliminary reports suggest that the vessel suffered extensive damage to its starboard superstructure causing fire and explosions that damaged its systems onboard.
Exposure to heat apparently disabled its pumping systems and fuel lines, rendering the ship unable to operate independently. Authorities are now considering the possibility of towing the ship to a safe location.
Translation by Giles Foster
