The USF Strike 11 Russian Vessels in the Sea of Azov Overnight

On the night of July 14, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 11 Russian vessels in the waters of the Sea of Azov.

Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on this.

The damaged vessels included 5 tankers, 5 dry cargo ships, and 1 tugboat.

In total, over the past 9 days, servicemen of the Unmanned Systems Forces have struck 116 Russian vessels.

The commander explained that Ukrainian drones are targeting small and medium-sized tankers approximately 140 meters long and with a deadweight of up to 7,000 metric tons. According to Madyar, these vessels constitute a significant component of Russia’s “shadow fleet.”

These tankers transport oil from Russian bases at the port oil transshipment terminal via the Volga-Don Canal and through the Sea of Azov.

Large tankers cannot reach the terminals in the Sea of Azov due to their deep draft, so they are loaded in the Black Sea.

According to the commander of the Special Forces, each one carries the equivalent of 12–15 of these smaller vessels. By putting them out of commission, Ukrainian defenders are effectively blocking the export of a portion of Russia’s oil.

The strikes are also disrupting supplies to the temporarily occupied Crimea. The destruction of tankers and tugboats attempting to tow damaged vessels is limiting the delivery of scarce gasoline to the peninsula.

Road and rail tankers remain the primary means of fuel delivery—but they, too, are targets for Ukrainian drones.

During previous strikes, USF drones destroyed an S-400 air defense system launcher near Kerch and a “Pantsir-S1” anti-aircraft missile and gun system in the vicinity of the village of Osoviny.

In addition, two Nebo-U radar stations in the temporarily occupied Crimea were struck.