---
title: "Strike on the 'shadow': Ukraine attacks Avero tanker and three oil depots deep in Russia's rear"
description: "Ukrainian drones attacked the Avero tanker in the Black Sea and three oil depots in the Stavropol region. Large-scale fires broke out at all facilities, dealing a blow to the logistics of Russia's \"shadow fleet.\" 🔥🛢️"
date: 2026-07-19T09:14:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/strike-on-the-shadow-ukraine-attacks-avero-tanker-and-oil-depots-deep-in-russias-rear
tags: [ukraine, russia, sbu, averro, shadow-fleet]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Strike on the 'shadow': Ukraine attacks Avero tanker and three oil depots deep in Russia's rear

![Unmanned boat on water used for attacking tanker Avero and oil depots in Russia](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/19/ukraina-atakovala-tanker-averro-i-neftebazy-v-tylu-rf/ukraina-atakovala-tanker-averro-i-neftebazy-v-tylu-rf-1.webp)

Ukrainian drones carried out a series of coordinated strikes on key Russian oil infrastructure facilities. As a result of operations conducted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a tanker from the "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea and three oil depots in the Stavropol region were attacked. Large-scale fires broke out at all the hit facilities.

### Attack on the Avero tanker

The main target in the Black Sea was the tanker Avero. According to the Ukrainian intelligence service, this Suezmax-class vessel was used to transport Russian crude oil during the period of the embargo imposed by the G7 countries and the European Union. Avero was delivering energy resources in circumvention of international restrictions, in particular to China and India.

The SBU emphasized that such "shadow fleet" vessels are a tool that allows the Kremlin to obtain funds to finance the war. The attack on Avero was the fourth in ten days: Ukrainian intelligence services have already struck three other tankers of this class.

### Strikes deep in the rear

Parallel to the operation at sea, Ukrainian drones attacked three oil depots located in the Stavropol region. The distance from the Ukrainian state border to the targets was about 600 kilometers.

As a result of the strikes, powerful explosions were heard at the facilities, after which fuel storage tanks caught fire. The fires engulfed all three depots. The SBU noted that such operations complicate the export of Russian oil, reduce the Kremlin's revenues, and diminish the ability to supply fuel to Russian troops.

### Context of operations

Special operations are being carried out to fulfill tasks set by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reduce the military-economic potential of the aggressor state. Against the backdrop of these events, on the night of July 19, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also struck other important Russian military facilities, including tankers in the Black Sea, a floating crane in the Sea of Azov, and logistics hubs on occupied territories.