Ukraine has attacked a Russian shadow fleet tanker called Qendil with aerial drones about 1,250 miles from its borders in the Mediterranean Sea. This is the first such strike in the Mediterranean since Russia’s full-scale invasion nearly four years ago. The strike happened off Libya’s coast on the same day as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s year-end press conference. Kyiv says the attack caused critical damage to the tanker, making it unusable. This tanker was reportedly used to evade Western sanctions and fund Russia’s war efforts. A source from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) called the operation “new” and “unprecedented,” but did not reveal details about the drone’s launch or flight path. The ship was empty during the attack, so there was no environmental threat. Ukraine has previously targeted similar Russian shadow tankers in the Black Sea to stop Moscow from earning money via oil exports. The shadow fleet includes over 1,000 ships often changing flags and hiding ownership to avoid sanctions. European leaders believe some of these ships help Russia carry out hybrid warfare. Ukraine says it will continue striking these targets anywhere in the world to stop Russia’s war. The tanker was last seen in Suez, Egypt, on December 16, then near Libya when it turned back. This attack follows other hits on Russia-linked tankers near Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Globally, countries like the US and European nations are cracking down on shadow fleet activities, aiming to stop the security and environmental risks posed by these ships. US forces recently boarded a sanctioned shadow tanker off Venezuela, while Europe tightens controls in its waters.