In response to drone strikes on Russian "shadow fleets" of tankers in the Black Sea, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday threatened to cut off Ukraine's sea access.

In a televised statement, Putin stated that the most radical solution would be to cut Ukraine from the sea. This will make piracy impossible in theory.

He said that Russia would intensify its strikes against Ukrainian vessels and facilities, and take action against the tankers of countries who help Ukraine.

A Ukrainian official of security said that on Saturday, Ukrainian drones struck two sanctioned oil tankers as they were heading to a Russian harbor to load up their tanks with oil for export.

A tanker with a cargo of sunflower oil, registered under the Russian flag, reported an attack by a drone off the Turkish coast on Tuesday. However, the 13 crew members aboard the vessel were not injured, according to the Turkish maritime authority and Tribeca Shipping Agency. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident.

Ukraine also launched missile and drone strikes on the Russian Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk, disrupting oil shipments.

Putin didn't elaborate on his threats to cut off Ukraine’s maritime access. Russia has taken over large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine since the February 2022 war began, but Ukraine retains control of major ports like Odesa. (Reporting and writing by Marina Bobrova, Mark Trevelyan and Vladimir Soldatkin)

(source: Reuters)