Kyiv – In a strategic counter-offensive, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is working to expose what he describes as a Russian “tanker spy ring,” a covert operation that allegedly uses commercial vessels for military purposes.
This move shifts the international focus from Russia’s claimed battlefield gains to its alleged violations of maritime law and norms. Zelenskyy stated that Russia is using its tankers for “reconnaissance and even sabotage activities.”
The goal of this counter-offensive appears to be to rally international support and pressure against Moscow. Zelenskyy emphasized that he is working closely with allies to find a way to stop this, stating, “It is entirely possible to stop this.”
This diplomatic and intelligence push comes as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin claims to be winning the conventional war. He announced the capture of nearly 5,000 square kilometers this year and asserted that Moscow now holds the “complete strategic initiative.”
Putin has also engaged in his own form of offensive diplomacy, warning the U.S. that supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a major escalation, triggering a “new stage” in the conflict and destroying their bilateral relationship.