Sea of Azov tankers hit in strikes near Crimea, Ukrainian drone forces say

Ukraine’s drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said between 6 and 9 July Ukrainian strikes set fire to multiple tankers in the Sea of Azov off occupied Crimea, targeting maritime supply routes that support the peninsula.

Brovdi, known as Magyar, told reporters that at least 25 ships were hit and burned over four days, while Ukraine’s military later referred to 36 vessels struck; exact figures remain unconfirmed and some ships may have been hit more than once.

Satellite imagery and footage shared on social media show fires and a large plume of smoke about 2.5 miles (4.2 km) off the Crimean coast, with images indicating a blaze persisting from 6 July and a number of vessels departing south toward the Black Sea.

The head of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces named several tankers allegedly struck, including Venera-3, Sanar-1, Sanar-17, Klimena, Thetis, Alexey Savrasov and Penelopa, and reported two earlier tankers each carrying around 7,000 tons of fuel from Taganrog to Crimea.

Regional authorities in Russia’s Rostov region, including governor Yuri Slyusar, acknowledged attacks in Taganrog Bay where two empty tankers were reported burning on Thursday following strikes on Wednesday.

Footage released by Ukraine shows a naval drone approaching a sanctioned tanker called Blue near occupied Crimea, and social media images depict damage to a passenger ferry named SKS One and a bulk carrier at Kerch port.

Analysts note the strikes are part of Ukraine’s declared “logistics lockdown” aimed at disrupting supplies to Crimea, following earlier attacks on Kerch port and continued strikes on Russian oil refineries that have contributed to fuel shortages across Russia.

Russian commentary has pointed to limitations in the Black Sea Fleet’s ability to protect maritime traffic, with observers saying fleet activity has become restricted and some vessels relocating to Novorossiysk for safety.

The attacks carry strategic and economic consequences for Crimea, where authorities face power and transport disruptions while Moscow had earlier pledged to secure monthly fuel needs estimated by Vladimir Putin at 70,000 tons.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky framed strikes on oil infrastructure as a response to Russian attacks, and international reactions included US President Donald Trump calling the drone campaign an escalation with potential to hasten an end to the conflict.