Kyiv – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of deliberately blurring the lines of war by using its civilian oil tanker fleet for espionage and sabotage. This allegation suggests Moscow is adopting increasingly unconventional tactics in its conflict with Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia’s tankers are not just commercial vessels but are also being used for “reconnaissance and even sabotage activities.” This claim implies a state-level strategy to leverage civilian assets for military advantage.
The Ukrainian government is actively seeking to counter this. Zelenskyy announced that he is collaborating with international partners to address the issue, stating with firm resolve that “it is entirely possible to stop this.”
This accusation of a shadow war came as Russian President Vladimir Putin was publicizing his own military achievements. He claimed his forces had seized control of nearly 5,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory in 2025, giving Moscow the “complete strategic initiative.”
Putin also issued a powerful warning to the U.S., stating that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would trigger a “qualitatively new stage of escalation.” He argued this would necessitate American military involvement and lead to the collapse of their relationship.