Ukraine attacked a further dozen Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov on Thursday and Friday, aiming to disrupt fuel supplies to Russian forces. Kyiv has intensified its attacks on Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov, claiming 27 vessel hits in two days.
The Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck thirteen vessels belonging to Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ on Friday, Kyiv’s USF said.
In a strategic move, Ukraine targeted 13 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov on July 10. In a statement on Friday, Ukraine’s USF said among these were 10 tankers, as well as a dry cargo ship and a ferry.
The extent of the damage and the results of the strikes are still being clarified.
On July 9, the Unmanned Systems Forces hit 14 Russian ships in the Sea of Azov described by the Ukrainian military as ‘shadow fleet’ vessels.
Specifically, on the night of July 9, 12 tankers, one dry cargo ship, and one tugboat were hit.
Ukrainian (USF) forces claimed that “all tankers” hit in the Ukrainian July 9 overnight strike had been identified, and they are all subject to international sanctions.
Shipping Telegraph could not independently verify the claim. Moscow had not commented at the publication time.
“Despite international sanctions, Russia continues to export oil through its shadow fleet, directing its revenue to finance the war against Ukraine,” the USF forces said in a statement.
These vessels were reportedly used to transport oil, circumventing international sanctions.
The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (USF) are a separate branch of the military that consolidates all key unmanned capabilities of the army – aerial, ground, and surface-based.
