Ukrainian drones strike 12 Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels in Black Sea as Crimea comes under large-scale attack

Ukrainian forces struck 12 Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea on July 17, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said on Telegram.

The strikes came as Ukraine launched a large-scale attack on the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. Explosions were reported across several cities, followed by fires at multiple locations.

Nine dry cargo ships, one oil tanker, one gas carrier, and one tugboat were hit in the Black Sea during the attack, Brovdi said.

According to Brovdi, the operation, codenamed "Molochka," has been underway since July 6 and aims to destroy Russia's shadow fleet operating in the Azov and Black Seas. During that period, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 159 vessels.

Brovdi said 117 of the vessels were struck in the Sea of Azov and another 42 in the Black Sea.

Russia relies on a so-called shadow fleet, consisting largely of aging tankers sailing under flags of convenience, to export oil in circumvention of international sanctions, embargoes, and the G7-led price cap. The fleet enables the Kremlin to sustain oil revenues and continue financing its war against Ukraine.

In addition to the strikes on Russian vessels, fires broke out at the Kerch railway station, including blazes in train cars and warehouses, the pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel Crimean Wind reported.

Explosions were reported in the village of Koktebel in southeastern Crimea and in the nearby city of Feodosia, according to the channel.

Crimean Wind also reported that Ukrainian strikes sparked fires on the Arabat Spit, including near areas where Russian forces are stationed. One of the reported fire sites was near the former military airfield outside the village of Baherove.

Two air raid alerts were issued in Sevastopol overnight on July 17, while traffic across the Crimean Bridge was suspended for nearly seven hours, from 9:43 p.m. local time until 5:13 a.m. the following day, the local authorities said.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.

Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war.

On July 16, Ukraine's Omega special forces unit said that it struck a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea.

"The first drone struck the aircraft's nose section, while the second delivered an additional strike near the fuel tanks, confirming the target had been hit," the unit said.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on July 16 that Ukrainian sea drones struck two Russian "shadow fleet" tankers in the Black Sea.