Russia declares its Black Sea waters unsafe due to Ukrainian drone attacks
Photo: Russian missile boat (wikipedia.org)
Russia has declared its waters in the Black Sea unsafe for navigation. The Russian Defense Ministry cites the threat of Ukrainian drone strikes and sea drones as the reason, according to Bloomberg.
Warning for ships in the Black Sea
According to the report, the Russian warning was addressed to all vessels operating within Russia's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.
In its weekly bulletin published on the Defense Ministry's website, Russia said the main danger stems from potential attacks by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and uncrewed surface vessels (USVs).
Attacks on Russian vessels
Moscow's announcement comes after a sharp increase in attacks on ships in the Black and Azov seas.
According to official figures from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, at least 124 Russia-linked vessels came under attack between July 8 and July 20 alone. Among the targets were 89 oil tankers.
In recent weeks, Ukraine's Defense Forces have significantly intensified pressure on Russian logistics in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
As part of the special operation codenamed MoLoCHKa, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces targeted nearly 200 enemy vessels. During just two days of the operation, 13 ships from Russia's so-called shadow fleet were struck.
At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) struck a series of critical targets as part of a 40-day operation. The strikes targeted Russian oil tankers, fuel depots, and even a bomber, dealing a significant blow to Russia’s military and economic potential.
In addition, Ukraine's Defense Forces conducted a series of nighttime strikes on Russia's military and logistical infrastructure, hitting two Russian oil tankers, a Buk surface-to-air missile system, and a strategic bridge.
