Ukrainian drones hit 14 Russian shadow fleet vessels in a single night
Ukrainian drone forces strike 14 Russian vessels in Sea of Azov and Crimea on July 12 (photo: dpsu.gov.ua)
Operators of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Unmanned Systems Forces carried out a successful overnight operation, striking 14 Russian vessels supporting Russian military logistics.
Overnight operation details
Ukrainian drones launched precision strikes against Russian logistical assets in the Sea of Azov and near occupied Crimea. The targets included:
- 10 tankers in the Sea of Azov, struck by troops from the 9th Kairos Battalion of the 414th Separate Brigade Magyar's Birds, the 1st Separate Center, and the 412th Nemesis Brigade.
- One ferry in the Sea of Azov, successfully hit by operators from the 1st Separate Center
- Three ferries near the city of Kerch in occupied Crimea, struck by troops from the 413th Separate Raid Regiment.
The targeted vessels were supporting Russia's shadow fleet and helping the Kremlin circumvent international sanctions.
The strikes are expected to significantly complicate Russian military logistics and reduce Moscow's ability to finance its wartime economy.
USF Operators Struck 14 Enemy Vessels Overnight
— Unmanned Systems Forces (@usf_army) July 12, 2026
Operators of the Unmanned Systems Forces continue to systematically strike sanctioned vessels that support russia’s logistics and military potential.
On the night of July 12:
• Operators of the 9th Kairos Battalion of the… pic.twitter.com/Yll6ARRlBt
Week's worth of drone successes
The latest operation was part of a broader campaign targeting the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation. Between July 6 and July 13, units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine struck a total of 90 Russian vessels.
Targeting shadow fleet of Russia
Earlier, Ukrainian drones struck nine more tankers linked to the Russian shadow fleet and partially disrupted the power supply in occupied Crimea. During that overnight operation, the Unmanned Systems Forces not only hit the vessels and triggered blackouts on the occupied peninsula but also struck 53 additional Russian military targets.
In addition, the previous day, Ukrainian drones hit two more shadow fleet tankers in the Sea of Azov. According to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, the vessels became the ninth and tenth targets lit up that day, bringing the total number of Russian tankers struck to 12.
