Was a GRU General Linked to the Salisbury Novichok Attack Killed in a Ukrainian Drone Strike?
Reports circulating this week suggest that Andrey Averyanov, a senior Russian military intelligence officer long associated with covert operations abroad, may have been killed during a Ukrainian drone strike on a Russian-linked oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.
While the claim has not been officially confirmed, the incident itself is real and already being described as a significant escalation in Ukraine’s reach beyond the Black Sea.
On Friday, Ukrainian special forces reportedly targeted the Qendil, an oil tanker believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”a network of vessels allegedly used to bypass sanctions and conduct covert logistical operations.
The ship was sailing in international waters off the coast of Libya when it was struck by drones, triggering a massive fire. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU/SSU) publicly acknowledged responsibility, calling it a “new and unprecedented special operation.”
If confirmed, this would mark the first known strike on a Russian tanker in neutral Mediterranean waters, expanding the geographic scope of Ukraine’s operations.
Who is Andrey Averyanov?
Andrey Averyanov, 60, is widely identified by Western intelligence agencies as the former commander of GRU Unit 29155, a clandestine division accused of carrying out assassinations, sabotage, and destabilization efforts across Europe.
Unit 29155 has been linked to multiple high-profile incidents, including:
The 2018 Novichok nerve-agent poisoning in Salisbury, England
Covert operations in several NATO and EU countries
Sabotage and influence campaigns attributed to Russian military intelligence
British authorities concluded that the Salisbury attack was conducted by GRU officers operating under false identities. While former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia survived, British citizen Dawn Sturgess later died after accidental exposure to the nerve agent.
Was Averyanov on the ship?
According to unverified reports shared by pro-Ukraine sources on Telegram, Averyanov may have been aboard the Qendil at the time of the strike, along with other GRU personnel. These claims have not yet been independently confirmed by Western governments.
Ukrainian sources allege that Averyanov frequently traveled using vessels tied to the shadow fleet while overseeing sensitive intelligence missions.
Putin’s response
Following reports of the attack, Vladimir Putin addressed the incident on Russian television, stating that “Russia will certainly respond.” While he did not confirm Averyanov’s status, the tone of the remarks underscored the seriousness with which the Kremlin is treating the strike.
If the reports are confirmed, this would represent:
A major intelligence loss for Russia
A symbolic blow to GRU operations abroad
A clear signal that Ukraine can strike Russian assets far beyond the battlefield
Even without confirmation of Averyanov’s death, the operation itself highlights how the war is increasingly extending into maritime, intelligence, and global enforcement spaces.
As with many developments in modern hybrid warfare, verification may take time but the strategic implications are already being felt.
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