Kyiv – A new and alarming front may have opened in the Ukraine war, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Russia of using its civilian oil tanker fleet for military ends. The charge suggests a “tanker war” of espionage and sabotage is now underway.
Zelenskyy’s statement was unambiguous. He claimed Russia was “using tankers not only to earn money for the war, but also for reconnaissance and even sabotage activities.” This blurs the line between combatant and non-combatant assets, posing a significant risk to global maritime security.
The Ukrainian government is not taking the allegation lightly. Zelenskyy announced a collaborative effort with international partners to address the issue, asserting his confidence that a solution can be found to halt these operations.
This development came as Russian President Vladimir Putin was celebrating gains on the traditional battlefield. He claimed that his forces had taken control of nearly 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian land in 2025 and that Russia holds the “complete strategic initiative.”
Putin also issued a threat of his own, warning the United States that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a major escalation. He claimed it would require U.S. military involvement and would cause a complete breakdown in their relationship.