The Buddha: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

In a notable maritime incident, the shadow tanker 'Fina A' sustained damage after being hit by a Ukrainian drone on June 17. Following this event, on July 7, a fleet of about six tugboats, led by the 'Haktan', navigated the Bosphorus Strait to tow the unladen vessel towards the Marmara Sea. Observers noted significant damage to the vessel's port side stern, which was clearly visible during the tow. The 'Fina A' has been blacklisted by the UK, Switzerland, the EU, and Canada and is recognized as one of the first tankers to be flagged under Timor-Leste. The ship was notorious for its practice of going dark to bypass the G7 oil price cap enforcement. Initially registered under the Equatorial Guinea flag, the 'Fina A' is listed in the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and has been owned by Seasailor Holding Ltd., based in Antigua and Barbuda, since 2024. On July 8, the damaged tanker was anchored at coordinates 40° 57' N, 028° 43' E, before being scheduled for repair at a shipyard in Yalova.

In a significant military operation, Ukrainian forces struck the sanctioned tanker 'Fina A' on the night of June 16, 2026, while it was navigating through the Black Sea, specifically between Anapa and Novorossiysk. The vessel, which was on its way from Vadinar to Novorossiysk, reportedly switched its AIS signal to 'not under command' following the incident. Details regarding the damage inflicted on the ship remain unclear. The 'Fina A' has a controversial history, including its involvement in the transportation of nearly 100,000 tons of Russian oil from the Sheskharis terminal in Novorossiysk to Dakar, Senegal, in August 2025. This shipment was conducted by the sanctioned entity Rosneft, prompting the European Union to impose sanctions on the tanker on May 20, 2025, with these sanctions taking effect from May 21, 2025. Ukraine followed suit by imposing additional sanctions on the vessel on December 13, 2025, and on its captain, Vapor Xunardito, on February 21, 2026. The tanker 'Fina A' is subject to sanctions from multiple jurisdictions, including the European Union, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ukraine, due to its role in transporting oil and petroleum products on behalf of the Russian Federation aimed at sidestepping international sanctions. It is registered in Equatorial Guinea and classified under Russian authorities, while its ownership and management are noted in Antigua and Barbuda. The latest inspection in May 2026 revealed eight deficiencies flagged by Indian authorities, highlighting problems with its auxiliary engine, fire detection systems, and working spaces. In related military actions, Ukrainian Defence Forces also targeted two road bridges in Kherson Oblast—one spanning the North Crimean Canal near Stavky and another close to Voinka—both essential routes for Russian troop and equipment movements within occupied southern Ukraine. Furthermore, a Russian command-and-observation post and a command post were struck near Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian units reported successful attacks on Russian drone control locations across Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, as well as two sites within Russia’s Kursk Oblast.