Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Iran Supply Route, Hits Sanctioned Cargo Ships and Missile Boat

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) used long-range drones to strike multiple military and logistical targets across Russia overnight on July 25, including air defense systems in Rostov-on-Don and maritime targets in the Caspian Sea.

According to the SBU, the operation targeted Russian military infrastructure as well as vessels allegedly involved in transporting military cargo from Iran.

The agency said the strikes in Rostov-on-Don damaged a 92N6E “Grave Stone” multifunctional radar and its antenna tower, key components of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system. The SBU also reported destroying a Tor-M2 short-range air defense system, a Pole-21 electronic warfare complex, and two warehouses storing FPV drones.

Separately, according to the SBU, Ukrainian drones struck several targets in the Caspian Sea, including the Filanovsky offshore oil platform, the sanctioned cargo vessel Port Olya 2, the dry cargo ship Begey, and a Russian Project 12418 Molniya missile boat.

The SBU said both Port Olya 2 and Begey had been used to transport military cargo between Iran and Russia and are under sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), Port Olya 2 belongs to the sanctioned Russian company MG-Flot, formerly known as Transmorflot. HUR links the company to businessman Jamaladin Pashayev, whose business interests include the Port of Olya in Russia’s Astrakhan region.

Ukrainian intelligence also says another company owned by Pashayev, Navigator LLC, organizes military maritime transport for Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

HUR further reported that Begey had been used to transport ammunition, artillery shells, body armor, and helmets from Iran across the Caspian Sea. During voyages between Iranian and Russian ports, the vessel’s crew allegedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to Ukrainian authorities.

The SBU added that Begey regularly called at Iran’s Amirabad Port, which Ukrainian authorities say has been used in the logistics chain for transferring Iranian-made attack drones to Russia.

The reported operation follows a broader wave of Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on July 25. Earlier that day, Ukrainian authorities and regional reports indicated strikes on the Tyumen oil refinery, a Wildberries logistics facility in Yekaterinburg, a fuel storage site in Rostov-on-Don, and an industrial enterprise in Kirov that Ukraine says manufactures components used in Russian weapons systems.

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