Sanctioned Tanker Fina A Struck by Ukraine en Route to Novorossiysk, Black Sea

The sanctioned crude oil tanker Fina A (109,637 DWT) was struck by Ukrainian forces overnight on June 16–17 in the Black Sea while en route from India to Russia's Novorossiysk export terminal.

AIS data confirms the vessel's status switched to "not under command" following the strike, corroborating Ukraine's General Staff report. The 244.6-metre tanker has not been boarded; its current condition and crew status have not been publicly disclosed.

Fina A is sanctioned by the EU, Switzerland, UK, Canada, and Ukraine for its role transporting Russian crude in circumvention of Western trade restrictions. The strike forms part of Kyiv's "kinetic sanctions" campaign targeting tankers linked to Russian oil exports, following similar strikes on two tankers at the entrance to Novorossiysk in early May.

Reuters reported, citing LSEG data, that Russia's seaborne oil product exports fell 15 percent in the first half of June to approximately 3.3 million tonnes.

Investigation into the extent of damage to Fina A is ongoing.