A Russian oil tanker, the Mersin, was hit by four explosions off Senegal, marking the third recent incident involving Russian fuel tankers defying Western sanctions. The ship was stabilized and crew safe, with no environmental pollution reported. Similar attacks on Russian vessels in the Black Sea involved upgraded naval drones, indicating targeted sabotage. These events highlight ongoing tensions and covert operations against Russian maritime assets.
A Russian oil tanker, the NS Leader, abruptly changed course off the coast of Portugal after being hit with US sanctions, indicating the impact of the measures. The tanker, ultimately owned by the Russian Federation, was originally bound for a Baltic Sea port but altered its destination to "for orders" following the sanctions. This move echoes a similar maneuver by another sanctioned tanker, the Viktor Bakaev, which is now anchored in the Black Sea. The US Treasury also sanctioned several companies associated with the NS Leader, asserting that the Russian Federation is its ultimate owner.
