Tanker Eagle anchor point at the port of Kilpilahti near the Gulf of Finland (Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)
Maritime experts say that the bomb’s fuel explosives are detonating the mines in days or weeks after the Russian port.
Underwater divers may use small boats to approach huge ships, suspected of using lig bone mines, which are magnetically fixed to their targets.
Some tankers are believed to be used by Vladimir Putin’s regime to undermine the sanctions imposed by the Ukrainian war on Russia.
In a new warning, maritime intelligence company Ambrey issued a notice that “the threat of an increase in the threat to Russian oil export hubs”.
It did not name Ukraine, but said it was “very likely” that the national actor targeted Russian ports with crude oil/petroleum products tankers, including Novorossiysk and Ust-Luga, starting at least at least December 2024.
The attack was suspected to be an attempt to sink a ship, usually a considerable period of time after leaving Russian ports and hundreds, if not thousands, of miles.
“One of the ships sank in the Mediterranean Sea, the second ship was damaged along the coast of Mersin, Turkey, and suffered damage in Libya,” Ambrey said.
“A ship exploded when it was moored in Usluga, Russia, partially sinking.”
The briefing added: “Ambrey evaluated the geographical location of the explosion that was likely to be largely irrelevant.
“The perpetrators may target delayed fuses as transportation targets at Russian ports.
“The attack may be intended to cause the total loss of the vessel.”
At least four tankers and a general cargo ship were reportedly targeted, with most ships at the stern, close to engine and mechanical space and underwater impacts.
“In these recent events, the pores of the vessel were described as ranging from 1m x 0.8m to 4m x 2m,” Ambrey said.
“Since they are placed underwater, they are likely to be placed when the ship drifts or anchors.
“These will be placed by divers and may use swimmers’ delivery vehicles.”
The maritime expert added: “Given the risks involved, it is unlikely that the naval mines will be placed next to the port, but there is a chance to travel to and from the port, where the ships have slowed enough to allow divers to have enough speed to attach their lim feet.
“Naval mines can have mechanical or other types of delay fuses that can be set to the days of explosion, even weeks, afterwards.”
These attacks will be seen as the development of the increasingly “gray war” between Putin’s regime and other countries.
One of the ships targeted was the koala that was calling at Ust-Luga.
Ships suspected to be part of Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” (including the Eagles) are accused of damaging underwater cables in the Baltic Sea and undermining sanctions imposed on Putin’s regime.
HMS Somerset and Russian spy ship Yantar (Royal Navy/PA) (PA Media)
Last fall, a Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine was ordered to surface near Yantar’s suspected Russian spy ship, which wandered over the underwater infrastructure in British waters and later returned while surveillance at HMS Somerset.
Ministers warn that Russian ships suspected of planning to cut submarine cables in British waters face raids from Royal Marine Commando.
Ukraine has carried out many successful sabotage operations against Russia.
