AMBREY THREAT CIRCULAR >VESSELS IN THE BLACK SEA FACE HEIGHTENED THREAT
Date released: 04 December 2025
“Ambrey advises companies calling at Russian and Ukrainian ports should secure dynamic risk assessments, align early with charterers on safe-port expectations and request hull inspections after Russian port calls.”
Source: This document has been approved for distribution by Ambrey Analytics Ltd.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- Ukraine has escalated maritime strikes, conducting overt USV and UAV attacks against Russian energy infrastructure and Russia-linked tankers.
- Russia has signalled readiness to expand retaliation, including strikes on Ukrainian ports and, if Ukrainian attacks continue, potentially on vessels belonging to states supporting Ukraine.
- Threat levels for tankers calling Russian ports and vessels calling Ukrainian ports have significantly increased, driven by both operational activity and strategic ambiguity.
UKRAINE ACTIVITY
Following US sanctions against Rosneft, Lukoil, and associated shadow-fleet entities, Ukraine appears to be increasing efforts to degrade Russia’s export and logistics capacity.
USV attacks On 28 November, Ukrainian forces conducted USV attacks on two crude oil carriers that…