Russia-Ukraine war live: chemical tanker hit near Crimea as UK reports ‘significant blow’ to Russian fleet

Ukraine claims responsibility for attack on Russian tanker near Crimea

Ukraine has taken responsibility for the drone strike on a Russian tanker in the Kerch Strait, according to a security service source.

“Overnight the [Ukrainian Security Service] SBU blew up the ‘SIG’, a large oil tanker of the Russian Federation that was transporting fuel for Russian troops,” the source told Agence France-Presse.

It said the operation, which involved a naval drone and explosives, was carried out jointly with the Ukrainian navy in the country’s territorial waters.

The source described the targeted vessel as “one of the most powerful oil tankers of the Russian Federation”. “It was well-loaded with fuel, so the ‘fireworks’ could be seen from afar,” they said.

Russian authorities said the SIG had been hit late last night local time south of the Kerch Strait. The oil and chemical tanker is under US sanctions for supplying jet fuel to Russian forces in Syria supporting the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad.

Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency said there had been no casualties in the attack, citing the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Novorossiysk.