Ukrainian long-range drones struck eight Russian oil tankers from the so-called shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov on Tuesday, with attacks continuing over two days against as many as a dozen vessels ferrying fuel to Russian-occupied Crimea. Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's commander of drone warfare, described the operation as "industrial in scale" and said the drones also hit a dry cargo ship and a ferry. He declared the shadow fleet had fled the area but vowed the battle for Crimean fuel supplies would continue.
Kyiv has signalled its intent to target such shipping. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba notified the International Maritime Organization in late June that Ukraine considers these vessels legitimate military targets. However, not all attacked ships are under international sanctions — only two of seven identified vessels appear on sanctions lists.
Moscow has not commented on the strikes. The attacks follow fuel rationing imposed by Russian authorities in late May after earlier Ukrainian drone hits on Crimean oil infrastructure.