Attacked in Rostov sanctioned tanker “Valeriy Gorchakov” is sinking
The tanker “Valeriy Gorchakov”, hit by drones on the night of December 18 in the port of Rostov-on-Don, suffered critical damage and began taking on water. The incident occurred near the maritime terminal of the Novoshakhtinsk oil products plant, reports ASTRA.
Photos released show the stern of the vessel submerged almost up to the superstructure. To prevent an oil spill, the area was immediately cordoned off, and the tanker was surrounded by booms.
The attack had casualties among the crew: the cook and engineer Ivan Kuznetsov were killed. Three other sailors, including the captain’s senior assistant and two seamen, were injured to varying degrees. The technical condition of the ship is assessed as critical, as the explosions and subsequent fire breached the hull in the engine and rudder compartments and seriously damaged the wheelhouse.
This area had already been targeted days earlier; on December 15, a fire broke out less than a kilometer from the current location of the tanker.
“Valeriy Gorchakov” is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” and is under strict international sanctions from the US, EU, and other countries. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the ship was repeatedly used to transport cargo through ports in occupied territories, making it a priority target in the strategy to limit Russia’s energy export capabilities.
Ukrainian monitoring channels Exilenova+ and Supernova+ report that the tanker “Valeriy Gorchakov” may have been struck. Originally built as a cargo vessel, it was later converted into an oil tanker.
