LONDON, March 7. /TASS/. Attacks against tankers entering Russian ports were most likely deliberately carried out by foreign state actors, said a report conducted by the British company Ambrey, specializing in maritime security.

According to it, at least four tankers and one cargo ship have "experienced damage consistent with naval mines" since December 2024.

"The majority of vessels suffered multiple explosions at the aft, near engine and machinery spaces, and underwater. It is highly likely that the attacks have been intended to cause total losses of vessels," the report said.

In December 2024, the Ursa Major cargo ship of Russian company Oboronlogistics sank in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ship sank after an explosion in the engine room.

The incident occurred in the international waters between Spain and Algeria. Oboronlogistics said that a terrorist attack had been carried out against the Russian vessel. According to the testimony of the ship's crew, on December 23, 2024, at 13:50 Moscow time, three consecutive explosions occurred on the starboard side in the aft area, after which the ship rolled to starboard to 25 degrees, which indicated a flow of water into the ship's rooms.

Ambrey said there were similar incidents with other vessels. Reuters news agency reported that at the end of January near the Turkish port of Ceyhan there was an explosion on board of oil tanker Seacharm belonging to Greece’s Thenamaris. Another incident took place with the Grace Ferrum chemical tanker off the coast of Libya in February. Besides, one vessel "suffered an explosion," while moored at Ust-Luga in Russia.

Mine placement

Ambrey suggested that the naval mines could have been placed, when the "vessels were drifting or anchored".

"These would be placed by divers, possibly with the use of swimmer delivery vehicles. It is highly unlikely that naval mines would be placed whilst the vessel was alongside in port given the risks involved, but there are opportunities en route to/from ports where vessels have slowed down sufficiently for divers to attach limpets. Naval mines can have mechanical or other types of delayed fuses which can be set to explode days, even weeks, later," the research said.

Ambrey said that none of the affected tankers were sanctioned or part of the industry-designated "shadow fleet."

"Evidence strongly suggests that the threat actor does not distinguish between vessels carrying Russian-origin oil and those transporting non-Russian hydrocarbons. Two of the affected vessels had previously loaded at the CPC terminal in Novorossiysk, which primarily exports Kazakh-origin crude, through some Russian infrastructure," it said.

"As such, Ambrey assesses that all vessels calling at Russian ports to load hydrocarbon products are at potential risk of targeting, irrespective of their ownership, flag, cargo origin, or operational profile."

Ambrey said that these attacks are not of sufficient volume to threaten Russian exports but would likely "have the effect of increasing War Risk Premiums.".