Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces announced that their drones struck at least 12 Russian fuel tankers belonging to the "shadow fleet" in the Sea of Azov over two nights, specifically on July 6 and 7. The military stated that eight sanctioned vessels, each with a deadweight of approximately 7,000 metric tons, were hit on July 7, following attacks on two other shadow-fleet vessels the day prior. These strikes are part of Ukraine's intensified efforts to isolate Crimea, a critical hub for Russia's war operations, and disrupt fuel and ammunition logistics.
The attacks targeted vessels transporting fuel from Russia's Taganrog to occupied Crimea, severely complicating the supply lines for Russian troops. Ukraine's top drone commander, Robert Brovdi, known as "Madyar," claimed that these attacks achieved "industrial-scale results." In addition to the tankers, Ukrainian drones also reportedly hit a dry cargo ship and a ferry, as well as five electrical substations and a gas compressor station across occupied Crimea. Brovdi identified several tankers, including Venera-3, Sanar-1, Sanar-17, Climene, Teti, Aleksey Savrasov, and Penelope, all of which were allegedly hit and badly damaged or on fire.
These drone strikes contribute to existing fuel shortages and power outages in Crimea, where authorities declared a state of emergency in May due to disrupted supplies. Ukraine has also targeted electrical substations, radar systems, and missile installations in recent weeks. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) noted that these actions aim to increase pressure on sanction-busting shippers and insurers. Ukraine has urged allies to crack down on vessels circumventing sanctions and has previously used sea drones against tankers carrying Russian oil in the Black Sea to reduce Moscow's energy revenues.
Experts like John Hardie from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies view these strikes as a campaign to "strangle Russian logistics, including fuel supplies, to Crimea," noting that Russia appears to lack an effective countermeasure. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba has argued to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that Russia's shadow fleet vessels may no longer qualify as ordinary civilian shipping under international law given their role in circumventing sanctions and supporting military operations.
