DIU: A tanker of Russia’s "shadow fleet" exploded in the Mediterranean Sea

DIU: A tanker of Russia’s "shadow fleet" exploded in the Mediterranean Sea

On June 27, a tanker named Vilamoura from the shadow fleet of the aggressor country Russia exploded in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying crude oil.

This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. It is noted that the incident occurred during the vessel’s transit from the Libyan port of Ez-Zuwaytina, approximately 150 kilometers northeast of Libyan territorial waters.

 

As noted by intelligence, the tanker was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands and was loaded with at least one million barrels of crude oil. Currently, the fire tug under the Maltese flag, Boka Summit, is transporting the damaged vessel to the Gulf of Lakonia in Greece for assessment.

"Vilamoura has been used repeatedly for transporting oil products from the aggressor state Russia’s ports. For example, in April 2025, the tanker was at the terminal in Ust-Luga port, and in May it was recorded in the area of Novorossiysk," the report states.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine added that the owner of the tanker is the transport company “TMS Tanker Ltd.”, registered in Marousi, Greece.