Ukrainian Drone Operation in the Sea of Azov
On the night of July 7, Ukrainian drones hit eight tankers belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov, which were transporting fuel to occupied Crimea. Commander Robert Brovdi of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces announced the operation, which also targeted a dry cargo ship and a ferry.
All struck tankers have been identified and are under international sanctions. The list of affected vessels includes:
- Venera-3
- Sanar-1
- Sanar-17
- Klimena
- Teti
- Aleksey Savrasov
- Penelopa
The name of the eighth vessel is still being determined. Earlier, Ukrainian defense forces had already struck two gasoline tankers in the same region that were also delivering fuel to Crimea from the Taganrog area.
Ukraine's Security Service, in coordination with other units, carried out a series of strikes on fuel-energy and military infrastructure targets in Russia and Crimea. The operation was conducted on the orders of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
'On the night of July 7, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 8 tankers of the Russian shadow fleet carrying gasoline for Crimea in the Sea of Azov. All tankers have been identified and are under international sanctions.' - Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Robert Brovdi
Ukraine's Strategy Against Russian Aggression
This operation underscores Ukraine's ongoing strategy to dismantle the logistics routes Russia uses to support its military activities in occupied Crimea. By hitting these tankers, Ukrainian forces aim to cut off fuel supplies critical to Russian military operations. It is important to note that these actions occur against the backdrop of international sanctions on Russian companies, highlighting global support for Ukraine in its fight for territorial integrity.
This recent strike on Russian tankers is part of a broader effort by Ukraine to undermine military capabilities in occupied territories. Similarly, Ukrainian intelligence has successfully targeted key military assets, including a Russian MiG-29 and a launcher in Crimea. For more details on these significant developments, read about the recent strikes on Russian military assets.