Ukrainian forces strike eight tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov
Ukrainian forces struck eight tankers from Russia’s shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov in the early hours of July 7. Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces, announced the strikes on his Telegram channel, backing the claim with video footage.
All eight tankers had been identified, Brovdi said, though only seven were named. According to MarineTraffic data, all of them sail under the Russian flag. The name of the eighth is still being determined.
A dry cargo vessel and a ferry were also hit in the same strike, Brovdi said. All the tankers sustained serious damage. The full extent of the losses cannot yet be assessed.
“The battle for gasoline for Crimea in the Sea of Azov continues,” Brovdi wrote.
The Russian side has not commented on the attack.
A fuel shortage began in occupied Crimea in late spring, caused by Ukrainian military strikes on fuel trucks and cargo vehicles supplying the peninsula via the P-280 “Novorossiya” highway.
In the second half of June, Sergey Aksyonov, Russia’s appointed head of Crimea, announced that fuel sales at gas stations across the region had been halted entirely. Only government services are permitted to obtain gasoline.
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