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Ukraine Disables 300 Russia-Linked Shadow Fleet Vessels in 11-Week Drone Operation
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Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) have disabled 300 vessels of Russia's so-called shadow fleet across the Azov and Black seas over 11 weeks, the force reported on September 22.
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Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, announced the milestone in a Facebook post marking the latest stage of Operation "MoLoChKa," which began on July 6. Ukrinform relayed his statement the same day.
"300 shadow fleet vessels have been hunted and taken out of self-propelled condition in the Azov (134 boats) and Black (166) seas by SBS Birds," Brovdi wrote.
The commander itemized the running total across the two theaters:
134 vessels struck in the Sea of Azov;
166 vessels were struck in the Black Sea.
Ukrinform noted that the campaign has run continuously for 11 weeks since early July.
Russia's shadow fleet comprises aging tankers and commercial vessels used to move oil and petroleum products despite Western sanctions.
The 300-vessel figure caps a tally that has climbed steadily since the campaign opened in July.
Ukraine reported 196 vessels struck by July 22 and 218 by August 8, with 134 of those recorded in the Sea of Azov. The count then rose to 282 by September 9.
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