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Russia Reportedly Using Secret Tankers to Supply Houthis and Destabilize Red Sea

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Photo of Vlad Litnarovych
Vlad Litnarovych
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Russia Reportedly Using Secret Tankers to Supply Houthis and Destabilize Red Sea
A view of a decaying FSO Safer oil tanker anchored 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the port of Hudaydah, Yemen on July 15, 2023. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service uncovered evidence tying Russia’s secret oil shipping network—commonly referred to as its “shadow fleet”—to support operations for Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants, the intelligence agency reported on May 8.

According to the agency, Russia is using these covert maritime operations to fulfill obligations to Iran, intensify pressure on US allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, and drive up global oil prices by fueling instability in the Middle East.

At the center of the evidence is the oil tanker MAISAN, which Ukrainian officials say has repeatedly delivered Russian oil to the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port of Ras Isa.

MAISAN oil tanker sailing under the name Galatia, March 10, 2023. (Source: Marinetraffic)
MAISAN oil tanker sailing under the name Galatia, March 10, 2023. (Source: Marinetraffic)

One notable incident occurred in August 2024, when MAISAN conducted several ship-to-ship (STS) transfers in the Aegean Sea to disguise the origin of its Russian cargo before offloading it in Ras Isa. Its most recent delivery to the Houthis occurred in early April 2025.

Ukrainian intelligence has identified the vessel’s captain as Russian citizen Vitaly Orlyukov (born July 9, 1987), listing his passport number and taxpayer ID to further substantiate the claim.

In addition to MAISAN, at least two other tankers—PALM (IMO: 9281425, flagged in Guinea-Bissau) and NOBEL M (IMO: 9228784, flagged in Barbados)—have reportedly made repeated trips from Russian ports Vysotsk and Tuapse to Yemen. Ukrainian sources say PALM was last seen in Ras Isa in April 2025, and NOBEL M in May.

NOBEL M crude oil tanker in the Bosphorus in 2024. (Source: Marinetraffic)
NOBEL M crude oil tanker in the Bosphorus in 2024. (Source: Marinetraffic)
PALM crude oil tanker in 2022. (Source: Marinetraffic)
PALM crude oil tanker in 2022. (Source: Marinetraffic)

“The Russian ‘shadow fleet’ is becoming a global threat, supporting extremist groups such as the Yemeni Al-Houthi movement,” the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service warned.

“The Houthis systematically attack US Navy ships, launch missile strikes against Israel, and target merchant vessels—actions that have already disrupted transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.”

Earlier, reports emerged that Russia supplied satellite data to Yemen’s Houthi rebels to help target Western ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, disrupting global trade and further destabilizing the region.

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