Putin humiliated as tanker carrying 1m barrels of oil rocked by mystery blast

A tanker carrying 1 million barrels of oil was hit by an explosion near Libya, forcing it to be towed to Greece for repairs. The vessel, Vilamoura, suffered flooding in its engine room after the blast, but the cause remains unknown.

Marshall Islands-flagged Vilamoura had docked twice at Russian ports this year, loading Kazakh crude through terminals in Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk-key hubs for Kazakh oil exports. While not carrying Russian oil directly, its route made it a target amid rising geopolitical tensions. TMS Tankers, the vessel's operator, confirmed the crew is safe and no pollution has been reported.

The company is now assessing the damage once the ship arrives in Greece.

Maritime risk consultancy Vanguard Tech reports that four other ships recently calling at Russian ports have been damaged by explosions since the start of the year, according to the Kyiv Independent.

This points to a deliberate pattern targeting vessels linked to Russian energy exports.

Ukraine has targeted Russian energy infrastructure throughout its invasion, including a drone strike in February on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline.

The CPC pipeline transports about 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports through Russian territory.

Disrupting this network cuts off crucial revenue streams for Moscow. The attack on Vilamoura adds pressure to Russia's energy exports, which fund much of the Kremlin's military operations.

The explosion also exposes growing risks for shipping in the region. Shipowners are increasing inspections using divers and underwater drones to detect mines or sabotage devices.

For Vladimir Putin, these incidents are a clear blow. Russia depends heavily on energy exports for income and international influence.

Attacks on tankers linked to its supply chain expose vulnerabilities and raise questions about Moscow's ability to protect its assets.

The incident near Libya shows that the energy conflict is global. Though far from Russian territory, the blast affects oil supplies worldwide and adds to uncertainty in energy markets.

As investigations continue, the maritime industry faces growing pressure to tighten security. The repeated explosions highlight how fragile energy supply routes remain amid ongoing conflict.