Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian Shadow Fleet and Oil Depots Across the Black and Azov Seas

Ukraine's Defense Forces Target Russian Infrastructure

According to ХВИЛЯ: On the night of July 19, Ukraine’s defense forces launched attacks on Russian assets in the Black and Azov Seas, as well as oil depots in the Stavropol region. The strikes hit vessels, electrical substations, an anti-aircraft missile system, and a road bridge.

In the Black Sea, two tankers were hit during the operation, while a floating crane was damaged in the Azov Sea. Near Zelenopillya in the Zaporizhzhia region, a Buk surface-to-air missile system was destroyed, and a road bridge was taken out close to Novoekonomichne in Donetsk Oblast. Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, reported that four vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet were struck, including:

• two tankers
• a dry cargo ship
• a floating crane

Additionally, eight electrical substations in occupied Crimea were hit. Following a strike on a substation in Yalta, power was cut off in the area.

Since July 1, a total of 176 watercraft have been hit in the Azov and Black Seas. Moreover, in the town of Mykhailivka in the Stavropol region-located 520 kilometers from the front line-oil depots caught fire after the attack. The LUKOIL-Yugnefteprodukt and MK-Nefteprodukt facilities were again targeted, marking the third strike on these sites within a few weeks.

Russia’s Response and Ukraine’s Next Moves

Russia’s Defense Ministry, for its part, claimed to have shot down 140 Ukrainian drones. In reaction to these events, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized that

“Ukraine’s defense forces will continue to systematically carry out measures aimed at stopping the armed aggression of the Russian Federation”

- General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Robert Brovdi noted that

“the fleet is drying up and hiding”

, underscoring the effectiveness of the attacks.

These developments highlight an escalation in military actions between Ukraine and Russia, particularly involving drone warfare and strikes on critical infrastructure. The attacks on oil depots in the Stavropol region underscore Ukraine’s strategic efforts to diminish the enemy’s resource base. The confirmed destruction of a substantial number of watercraft in the Black and Azov Seas also points to the growing effectiveness of Ukrainian forces in naval operations.

In a related operation, Ukrainian forces targeted multiple Russian assets, striking six tankers and two key bridges overnight. This coordinated effort underscores the ongoing intensity of Ukraine's military strategy in the region. For a detailed account of this significant operation and its implications, read more about the recent strikes on Russian infrastructure.