Story
Ukraine Reports Drone Strikes on Russian Tankers in Sea of Azov
Summary
Kyiv's military has claimed responsibility for a series of drone attacks over two days targeting a dozen Russian tankers. The strikes are part of an intensified effort to disrupt fuel supplies to the occupied Crimean peninsula.
Ukrainian military officials announced on Tuesday that their drone forces attacked a dozen tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet" over a two-day period. The attacks reportedly took place in the Sea of Azov, a key maritime supply route for Russian forces in Crimea and other occupied territories in southern Ukraine.
According to a statement from Ukraine's drone forces, eight vessels were struck on Tuesday, with two more hit later in the day. These followed attacks on two other tankers in the same area a day earlier. The targeted vessels were described as having a deadweight of approximately 7,000 metric tons each and were allegedly delivering fuel to Crimea.
These strikes are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign targeting logistics and energy infrastructure in and around the Russian-occupied peninsula. Recent attacks have reportedly contributed to fuel shortages in Crimea, prompting local authorities to declare a state of emergency. Moscow has not issued a public comment on this week's reported tanker strikes.
AdWhile Ukraine's drone forces stated that the vessels were subject to sanctions, a review by the Reuters news agency found that only two of the seven initially identified tankers were listed under international sanctions. Kyiv has consistently urged its allies to take stronger measures against the network of vessels used to transport Russian oil in circumvention of international sanctions.