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Russia’s Shadow Fleet Takes 35 Hits in 96 Hours as Ukraine Targets Azov Sea Logistics
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Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces struck 14 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov, bringing the total number of tankers, cargo ships, and special-purpose vessels hit over four days to 35, commander of the Ukrainain Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi said on July 9.
According to Brovdi, Ukrainian drone units struck 45 Russian military targets in Crimea and the southern part of temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory overnight.
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The targets included the Saky thermal power plant, three fuel depots or fuel bases, two logistics bases, a Zhitel electronic warfare station, communication towers, Russian temporary deployment points, fuel tankers, and 14 vessels from Russia’s shadow fleet.
All 14 vessels hit overnight were in the Sea of Azov. Brovdi said the group included 12 tankers, one cargo ship, and one tugboat.
“The shadow fleet is slimming down: over 96 hours, 35 tankers, cargo ships, and special-purpose vessels have been hit,” Brovdi said.
On the night of July 9, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 14 vessels belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' in the Sea of Azov.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) July 9, 2026
In total, 35 Russian tankers, cargo ships, and specialized vessels have been struck over the past 96 hours by the Unmanned Systems Forces!
Glory!… https://t.co/1JsM4h7oVH pic.twitter.com/pMbnytTiFj
He also published a chronology of the strikes.
On July 6, Ukrainian drone forces hit two tankers: Kapitan Barmin and Sanar-3, a Primemax-type vessel.
On July 7, 10 vessels were hit, including eight tankers, one cargo ship, and one ferry. Brovdi listed them as Venera-3, Sanar-1, Sanar-17, Klimena, Teti, Alexey Savrasov, Penelope, Ivan Cheremisinov, the SKS One ferry in Kerch, and one cargo ship whose name is still being clarified.
On July 8, nine vessels were hit: the tankers Efrosinya V, Maria, Sanar-17 for a second time, Sanar-4, and Klimena for a second time, as well as the cargo ships Donstar, Vladimir Yarygin, Feofan Shokhirev, and Evgeniya Z.
On July 9, 14 vessels were hit, including 12 tankers, one cargo ship, and one tugboat. The listed vessels included the Russian-flagged tankers Chelsea-6, Aura, Sanar-1, Ilya Repin, Venera-3, and Penelope; the Panama-flagged tanker Galiasgar Kamal, which is under sanctions; the Russian-flagged tug Alfeo with the barge Afrodita; and Mercury, whose vessel type is still being clarified. Details on five more vessels are also still being verified.
According to Brovdi, all identified tankers are part of Russia’s shadow fleet and are under international sanctions.
He said the strikes were coordinated by the newly created Deep Strike Center of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces.
Russia started to disguise fuel shipments as water and milk tankers in an attempt to hide military logistics from Ukrainian drones.
The tactic has become familiar enough that Ukrainian operators now treat such vehicles as potential fuel carriers when they are detected on routes feeding temporarily occupied Crimea.
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