Ukraine Strikes 10 Russian Oil Tankers, Ferries in Sea of Azov

Ukraine's Defense Forces launched a significant strike in the Sea of Azov overnight, damaging ten Russian oil tankers and four ferries. These vessels are part of Russia's so-called 'ghost fleet,' utilized to bypass international sanctions imposed on its oil exports.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russia employs these oil tankers to transport Russian oil and petroleum products, circumventing global restrictions. The ferries, meanwhile, are crucial for supporting Russian military logistics in the region. This latest series of attacks highlights Ukraine's ongoing efforts to disrupt Russia's economic and military operations.

Robert Brovdi, also known as 'Magiar' and head of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, reported that the number of Russian 'ghost fleet' vessels damaged in the Sea of Azov this week has reached 90. This total includes oil tankers, tugboats, ferries, and dry cargo ships, indicating a sustained campaign against Russia's maritime assets.

Media reports on Saturday indicated that Russia had temporarily suspended navigation along the Don-Azov canal, which connects the Don River to the Sea of Azov, in response to Ukraine's attacks on tankers. Brovdi commented on this development, suggesting that traffic through the Kerch Strait, the maritime channel separating Crimea from Russia and providing access to the Sea of Azov, may also have been interrupted. The effectiveness of these Ukrainian strikes in disrupting Russian logistics and sanction evasion efforts is becoming increasingly apparent.

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It seems that traffic through the Kerch Strait has been interrupted.