UK intelligence releases images of Russian ship with Shahed drones sunk by Ukraine in Caspian Sea
Photo: Ukraine sank a Russian ship carrying Shahed drones in the Caspian Sea (Russian media)
Ukraine continues to launch drone strikes deep inside Russian territory. This time, a cargo ship carrying Iranian military cargo was hit, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
Strike on the port of Olya
Ukraine’s General Staff said that on August 14, 2025, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea port of Olya. The ship was transporting equipment and ammunition from Iran, including drone components. The attack left the vessel partially submerged.
Satellite images dated August 19 show Russia attempting to salvage the remaining cargo. According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Olya is a key logistics hub for the transfer of Iranian weapons to Russia.
Significance of the strike
The attack took place about 640 km from Ukraine’s border, underscoring Kyiv’s ability to hit targets deep inside Russia and exposing Moscow’s difficulties in defending military and industrial infrastructure with its air defenses.
UK intelligence said Ukraine is steadily improving its drone capabilities, complicating Russia’s efforts to maintain secure supply routes. The damage to the vessel in Olya is part of this strategy.
Iran’s role in the war
Iran supplies Russia with artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles, and large numbers of Shahed-type attack drones. Tehran is also actively supporting drone production inside Russia.
Moscow's reliance on Iranian supplies decreased in 2025 as Russia increased its own production of UAVs. However, strikes on transportation show that supply routes remain vulnerable, according to the British Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine’s military previously reported that the August 14 strike on Olya in Russia’s Astrakhan region destroyed a ship loaded with drone parts and Iranian munitions, causing it to partially sink.
