Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) attacked eight Russian fuel tankers, a ferry, and a cargo ship overnight on July 7. USF Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi said all the tankers hit are under international sanctions. The vessels have a carrying capacity of around 7,000 tons, are about 140 meters long, and were built between 2006 and 2012. The identity of the eighth tanker is still being determined.
In addition to the fuel carriers, Ukrainian drones struck 58 military targets in the rear areas of Russian troops in occupied territories, Brovdi reported. Energy infrastructure on Crimea was also targeted, including power supply facilities and logistics hubs. The extent of the damage is still being assessed. “The shadow fleet is leaving the chat,” Brovdi wrote. “The fight for fuel supply to Crimea in the Sea of Azov continues.”
Ukraine defends the strikes on Russia’s shadow fleet as legitimate military targets, since the tankers transport Russian oil and gas, directly fueling Moscow’s war chest. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba argued in a letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that the activities of these ships cannot be considered ordinary commercial operations. The shadow fleet is “critical for generating budget revenues for the Russian Federation and continuing its war efforts,” he said.
Industry estimates put Russia’s shadow fleet at more than 1,500 tankers. European countries are stepping up efforts against the fleet: Britain and France have intercepted suspicious vessels, while EU states pressure countries like Panama, Barbados, and Cameroon to remove shadow fleet tankers from their registries, making inspections or seizures easier.
Source: www.kyivpost.com
