Ukrainian drones strike 11 more vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) struck 11 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on 16 July.

Source: Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces

Details: Brovdi reported that 10 vessels have been struck in the Black Sea and one in the Sea of Azov. They are five oil tankers, one LNG tanker, three bulk carriers and two tugboats.

"During Operation MoLoCHKa, conducted by the USF from 6 to 16 July, 147 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet have been struck," he added.

The commander specified that 117 vessels have been struck in the Sea of Azov and 30 in the Black Sea.

Brovdi said the operation aims to disrupt the transport of oil, fuel and other cargo carried in circumvention of international sanctions.

"The goal is to turn every self-propelled vessel into a barge drifting at sea – blind and deaf. The objective is not to pollute the waters with oil spills, so there are no hull breaches," he noted.

The commander added that the five oil tankers in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov were struck by the 9th Kairos Battalion of the 414th Magyar's Birds Separate Brigade, the 1st Separate Centre of the USF and the 20th K-2 Separate Brigade. The LNG tanker and two tugboats in the Black Sea were struck by the 1st Separate Centre, while the three bulk carriers were targeted by the 9th Kairos Battalion.

Background: On the night of 14-15 July, Ukrainian drone units struck 20 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea.

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