Ukrainian forces have intensified their campaign against Russia’s “shadow fleet,” striking 159 vessels in just 12 days. Operation “Molochka” targets Russian maritime logistics used to circumvent sanctions, aiming to paralyze oil, fuel, and cargo transport without causing environmental disasters. The strikes focus on “feeder” vessels that transfer oil from shallow ports to larger tankers. Ukraine asserts these vessels finance Russia’s war effort, making them legitimate military targets, while Russia condemns the actions as terrorism.
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Ukraine initiated a new phase of its maritime drone campaign, targeting 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea on July 15. This operation, named “MoLoChKa,” has expanded from the Sea of Azov, where Ukrainian drones had previously attacked 116 vessels. The recent strikes on July 15 reportedly hit 17 oil tankers, two gas tankers, and one tugboat. These vessels are believed to support Russia’s military logistics through cargo transport and port infrastructure servicing.
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Ukrainian forces confirmed the destruction of the Russian border patrol ship Izumrud on July 14, supported by satellite imagery showing the vessel wrecked. The strike, carried out near Novorossiysk using a Sargan-3000 uncrewed maritime system, resulted in casualties among the Russian crew. This incident is part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to degrade Russian naval capabilities in the Black Sea, which has already pushed numerous commercial vessels to reroute.
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John Q. Hosedrinker