Attacks on Russia in Sea of Azov become largest naval warfare in half a century – FT

Ukrainian strikes on Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea have, in intensity, matched or even surpassed the Tanker War between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s.

Source: Financial Times

Details: In the nine days leading up to 14 July, Ukrainian drones attacked 116 Russian vessels.

This pace far exceeds that of the Iran-Iraq war period, when around 450 strikes were recorded over seven years, Thomas Alexa, a senior analyst at maritime security firm Ambrey, told the publication.

"I cannot stress enough how unprecedented this is. We have never seen anything so concentrated on a global scale," he said.

Ukrainian drones mainly target ship bridges or pipelines that feed liquid cargo into onboard tanks. As a result, vessels do not sink but lose their ability to manoeuvre.

Restoring control systems can take a long time. Moreover, damaged ships must be towed to docks for repairs, while tugboats themselves also come under Ukrainian drone attacks.

Alexa added that these are highly accurate strikes and a potentially extremely deadly campaign for Russia.

Background: On 14 July, it was reported that Russia is preparing to reroute grain shipments from the Sea of Azov following Ukrainian drone attacks on tankers, ferries, tugboats and other vessels.

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