Ukraine Disables 11 Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels in Black Sea and Sea of Azov in a Single Day

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces targeted 11 vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on Thursday, according to their commander, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi. The targets included five oil tankers, one gas tanker, three dry cargo ships and two tugboats, Brovdi reported on Telegram.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The attacks formed part of an operation dubbed “MoLoChKa,” conducted between July 6 and 16. Brovdi said Ukrainian forces had targeted 147 Russian vessels during that period – 117 in the Sea of Azov and 30 in the Black Sea. According to the commander, the operation seeks to paralyze Russia’s oil, fuel and cargo logistics used to circumvent international sanctions. Brovdi indicated that the strikes were intended to disable the vessels’ navigation and communications systems, leaving them “blind and deaf,” rather than breach their hulls and risk oil spills. While Ukraine has battered Russian logistics in the Sea of Azov since early July, Kyiv expanded its maritime drone campaign into deeper Black Sea waters on Wednesday. The wider campaign aims to systematically isolate Russian-occupied Crimea, disrupt military supply lines and sever Moscow’s economic lifelines. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.