Kyiv claims the attack killed GRU General Andrey Averyanov, linked to Salisbury novichok poisoning, marking the first strike on a Russian tanker in neutral waters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning following a reported Ukrainian strike that allegedly killed Andrey Averyanov, a senior Russian military intelligence (GRU) officer implicated in high-profile European covert operations.
The attack occurred Friday when Ukrainian drones hit the Qendil, an oil tanker belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet, off the coast of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea. The vessel erupted into flames, marking the first time a Russian tanker was targeted in neutral waters. Previous strikes on shadow fleet ships had taken place exclusively in the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) claimed responsibility, describing the operation as “new” and “unprecedented.” According to unconfirmed reports, Averyanov, 60, was aboard the Qendil at the time of the attack and died. He was widely recognized as the former commander of GRU Unit 29155, a clandestine group believed to have carried out assassinations, bombings, and sabotage campaigns across Europe under Kremlin direction.
Averyanov’s unit has been linked to the 2018 Salisbury poisoning, in which former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were critically poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. While the Skripals survived, local resident Dawn Sturgess later died after exposure to discarded Novichok.
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Kyiv’s reports indicate Averyanov frequently traveled across Europe via shadow fleet vessels while conducting covert operations. A pro-Ukraine Telegram channel first reported the general’s alleged death, noting that several of his deputies may have also perished in the attack.
In response, Putin told a Russian television audience: “Russia is certainly going to respond.” The brief, six-word statement underscores heightened tensions between Moscow and Kyiv as Ukraine intensifies its campaign against Russian shadow fleet operations.
UK authorities have previously concluded that GRU officers operated under false identities during Averyanov’s European missions, including the Salisbury attack. The alleged elimination of such a high-ranking intelligence figure could mark a significant escalation in Ukraine’s covert operations and may have implications for Russian intelligence activity abroad.
The SSU’s operation highlights Kyiv’s expanding reach beyond the immediate conflict zone, signaling both a tactical and psychological campaign against Russia’s maritime and intelligence assets. International observers are closely monitoring Moscow’s reaction, as any retaliation could further destabilize the region and increase risks for commercial shipping in contested waters.