Ukraine Knocks Out 75% of Russia’s Kerch Ferry Capacity in Just Two Weeks

Ukraine’s drone forces have reduced the capacity of the Kerch Strait ferry crossing by 75% during a two-week operation targeting vessels used to supply Russian forces in occupied Crimea, according to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi on July 19.

The ferry route connects Russia’s Krasnodar region with the Crimean Peninsula and serves as an alternative logistics corridor to the Kerch Bridge. Brovdi said approximately 80% of its traffic was allocated to the needs of the Russian Defense Ministry.

Before the Ukrainian operation, four ferries—Lavrentiy, Panagia, Yeysk, and Maria—regularly transported vehicles and cargo between Port Kavkaz and Port Krym. A fifth vessel, SKS One, was held in reserve at the port of Kerch.

According to Brovdi, Ukrainian strikes have left three of the vessels unable to return to service, while the remaining two can no longer operate independently.

The Yeysk ferry was struck by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces on July 12 and 13 before being towed to Kerch. Brovdi said the vessel is not expected to be repaired or returned to the ferry route.

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SKS One was targeted on July 7, 12, and 13 and is now lying on the seabed at the port of Kamysh-Burun, according to the commander. He said the vessel is beyond repair.

The Maria ferry was repeatedly struck during July in operations involving the Unmanned Systems Forces and Ukraine’s Security Service. It was subsequently towed to Kerch and is also not expected to resume operations.

Two other ferries, Lavrentiy and Panagia, have lost their ability to move under their own power. Brovdi said they are now being used as barges and must be moved by tugboats, substantially limiting their transport capacity.

The strikes were conducted as part of an operation named Molochka involving Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces and Security Service, with some of the vessels previously targeted by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency.

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Before the operation, the four active ferries could collectively transport an estimated 180 to 250 vehicles per day. Each vessel could carry approximately eight to 15 vehicles, depending on their size and weight.

The reported degradation of the ferry crossing complicates Russian military transportation between the Krasnodar region and temporarily occupied Crimea at a time when Ukrainian forces are also targeting maritime and port infrastructure around the Kerch Strait.

On July 17, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Project 10410 Svetlyak-class patrol ship belonging to the Federal Security Service’s Border Guard Service in temporarily occupied Kerch. A second ship of the same class was targeted in the port the following day.

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