Ukraine targets Iranian-linked vessels in the Caspian Sea, damaging arms shipments to Russia and sinking an Iranian cargo ship, reports Maritime Executive.
Ukraine has attacked Iranian-linked shipping on the Caspian Sea, damaging vessels carrying arms to Russia and sinking one Iranian cargo ship, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Details remain unclear, but Iran lodged complaints with the EU and UN after the weekend strikes. Reports indicate that a sailor was killed, and the damaged vessel required rescue at Astrakhan. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that ships carrying military cargo between Russia and Iran, as well as a Russian naval escort, were hit.
Ukrainian media identified the targets as the Russian cargo vessel Port Olya 2 and the dry cargo ship Begey, both of which are under Western sanctions. Subsequent reports named the destroyed Iranian vessel as the 90-metre Ana, based on a death notice for a sailor from Bandar Anzali. The Russian Navy's Tarantul Class corvette RFS Stupinets was also struck while escorting merchant ships.
The Maritime Executive noted that Iran has used Caspian ports such as Bandar Anzali and Amirabad to ship arms north via Russia's Volga-Don canal system. Past shipments included ammunition, Shahed drones, and Fatah-360 missile launchers.
Ukraine began targeting Caspian shipping in 2024, damaging Russian frigates at Kaspiysk and prompting retaliatory missile launches. Iran's ability to defend its northern fleet collapsed that November when most of its vessels, including the flagship IRINS Deylaman, were sunk at Bandar Anzali.