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Russia Is Losing the Sea of Azov as Ukraine Hits 105 Shadow Fleet Vessels in 8 Days
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Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) say they have struck 105 Russian vessels operating in the Sea of Azov and around temporarily occupied Crimea over the past eight days, as Kyiv continues a large-scale drone campaign targeting Moscow’s maritime logistics and shadow fleet.
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According to SBS Commander Maj. Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, Ukrainian drone units hit another 15 vessels overnight on July 13, including seven tankers, five cargo ships, one ferry, and two tugboats.
In a statement published on July 13, Brovdi said the latest strikes formed part of the ongoing operation against Russian shipping supporting the occupation of Crimea and military logistics in the Sea of Azov.
“Overnight on July 13, the Free Ukrainian Bird of the Unmanned Systems Forces hunted down 15 vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet: seven tankers, five cargo ships, one ferry, and two tugboats.”
According to Brovdi, SBS successfully struck 105 vessels between July 6 and July 13. “Between July 6 and July 13, we successfully struck 105 watercraft.”
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Brovdi said the maritime operation has also expanded to Russian logistics infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea. According to his statement, transfer facilities on the peninsula have come under attack every night, vessel traffic through the Kerch Strait has been suspended, and cargo unloading operations have been reduced to a minimum.
The SBS commander also reported additional strikes carried out as part of the operation dubbed “Crimean Switch Off.” According to his statement, Ukrainian drones hit nine electrical substations of varying capacity in temporarily occupied Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories overnight. He added that a strategic electricity transfer point on the Kuban–Crimea energy bridge was struck for the second time within 48 hours.
Brovdi further stated that Ukrainian forces destroyed a launcher belonging to a Russian S-400 Triumf air defense system, a Tor surface-to-air missile system, and two radar complexes during the same operation.
Separately, he said SBS operators engaged 1,725 targets across the tactical depth of the front over the previous day, including 418 Russian troops.
The reported strikes are part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet—commercial vessels that Western governments say are used to transport Russian oil while circumventing international sanctions.
Earlier this week, Brovdi said SBS units had struck 90 Russian vessels during the first seven days of the operation, including 28 ships in a single overnight attack on July 11. Ukrainian officials have also reported repeated drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, air defense systems, and military facilities in temporarily occupied Crimea as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Moscow’s logistics across the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
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