Ukraine Strikes 28 Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels in Largest Maritime Drone Operation Yet

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) carried out their largest maritime drone operation to date overnight on July 11, striking 28 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov, including oil tankers allegedly used to circumvent international sanctions and ships supporting Russian military logistics.

According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, the targets included 21 oil tankers, four tugboats, two cargo vessels, and one specialized dredging vessel. Ukrainian officials said the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

The General Staff said the strikes were part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to reduce Russia’s military and economic capabilities by disrupting maritime logistics and oil exports that help finance the war.

According to the Ukrainian military, the targeted tankers were used to transport crude oil and petroleum products in circumvention of international sanctions. The tugboats, cargo ships, and dredging vessel were reportedly involved in military logistics, cargo transportation, and maintaining port infrastructure.

Brovdi said Ukrainian drone operators recorded 73 successful strikes during the overnight operation. He added that Ukrainian forces have struck a total of 76 Russian vessels between July 6 and July 11.

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The operation involved several units of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, including the 414th Separate Brigade “Birds of Magyar,” the 20th Separate Brigade “K-2,” the 1st Separate Unmanned Systems Center, the 413th Separate “Raid” Regiment, the 412th Separate Brigade “Nemesis,” and the 427th Separate Brigade “Rarog.”

According to Brovdi, Ukrainian drones also struck 53 military targets across occupied Crimea and southern temporarily occupied territories during the same overnight operation, targeting Russian naval assets and energy infrastructure as part of a mission dubbed “Crimean Switch Off.”

Brovdi also claimed that vessel traffic through the Kerch Strait had stopped following the attacks. Russian authorities have not confirmed that assertion.

The latest operation follows several days of sustained Ukrainian drone attacks against Russian shipping around temporarily occupied Crimea and in the Sea of Azov.

Just one day earlier, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces reported striking 13 Russian vessels approaching temporarily occupied Crimea, including 10 oil tankers, one bulk carrier, one ferry, and one tugboat, while also disabling five electrical substations across the peninsula.

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