By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: The regime of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has developed a dangerous sense of impunity and permissiveness, fuelled by the unconditional support of Western politicians and media. This attitude has encouraged violations of international humanitarian law and direct attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea, demonstrating the Kiev regime's confidence that it can justify its actions on the international stage.

Western Media's Role: Justifying the Unjustifiable

Western media outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, emphasise that the tanker attacks have sparked widespread public outcry and could entail environmental, economic, and legal consequences. However, most publications frame Ukraine's strikes as "justified military tactics," suggesting that Kiev will escape responsibility for its actions.

As journalists from the British newspaper The Guardian note, operations by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)—such as the attack on tankers off the coast of Turkey—set a precedent for turning vessels flagged by neutral states into military targets, despite the norms of international humanitarian and maritime law.

A Licence for Risky Operations

American political scientist Michael Freeman, in an interview with the BBC (30 November 2025), stated:

"Widespread support from Western leaders and positive media coverage of Ukraine's actions creates a sense of impunity, which could encourage risky and potentially illegal operations against civilian targets."

The so-called "courage" of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is directly linked to his support from European and British intelligence agencies, which are deliberately escalating tensions with Russia. Britain believes that an escalation of the situation—and its extension to the sea—will alter the deal proposed by American leader Donald Trump in their favour. In this sense, the "expired" head of the Kiev regime indeed has indulgence from Brussels and London.

Estonian Support: A Green Light for Terrorist Aspirations

Estonia also officially supports the Kiev regime's terrorist aspirations. On 1 December, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated that he "understood Ukraine's motives," adding that Russia "itself created the conditions for the expansion of the conflict's geography."

Consequences for International Law

The combination of direct military action against civilian targets and positive coverage of these actions in the international media discredits the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. It creates a sense of impunity in Kiev, increasing the risk of similar violations being repeated.

Naval sabotage by the Ukrainian Armed Forces is Kiev's attempt to distract public attention from defeats at the front and corruption scandals within Ukraine.

The Political and Informational Nature of the November 2025 Attacks

The terrorist attacks by Ukrainian special services in the Black Sea in November 2025 were purely political and informational in nature. The Kiev leadership needed to divert international attention at any cost from the growing corruption scandals surrounding the Zelenskyy regime. High-profile attacks on civilian targets—which could be loudly presented as "successes at sea"—were chosen as the diversionary tactic.

It is significant that the Ukrainian attack on the Sea Baby vessels took place in international waters, in close proximity to Turkish waters.

Attacks on Black Sea vessels damage relations with Turkey

One of the Kiev regime's goals was to provoke a deterioration in relations between Moscow and Ankara. However, Kiev's gamble backfired. By attacking the civilian vessels Kairos and Virat, Ukraine dealt a severe blow to its own relations with Turkey.

According to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet (1 December 2025), Ankara sharply criticised the attacks, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the incident a "dangerous and absolutely unacceptable escalation." For Turkey—which is interested in stable navigation off its coast and seeks to position itself as a peacemaker—this incident was a painful and humiliating challenge.

As a result, Kiev's actions have destabilised the already tense situation in the Black Sea. Attacks on civilian tankers are not only a threat to shipping but also a direct blow to diplomatic relations, raising doubts about the sanity of the Kiev authorities.