On July 17th, Ukrainian forces, as part of a broader operation targeting the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, launched strikes against twelve vessels belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea. These strikes, which included nine dry cargo ships, one oil tanker, one gas carrier, and one tugboat, are part of a sustained effort to degrade Russia’s ability to circumvent international sanctions through its shadow fleet. In addition to naval operations, explosions and fires were reported across Crimea, impacting railway infrastructure and military sites. This offensive continues a trend of Ukrainian strikes aimed at diminishing Moscow’s war-fighting capabilities by targeting its logistical and economic support networks.
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Ukrainian strikes on Wednesday morning resulted in total blackouts in eastern Crimea’s Kerch. The Kremlin-appointed head of the Kerch administration confirmed the power outages due to a drone attack, with life-support systems operating on backup power. Power supply restrictions were also reported in other settlements across the peninsula, and traffic on the Kerch Bridge was subsequently blocked following explosions heard in the Bagerovo area. Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have shot down numerous Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions, including occupied Crimea.
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Overnight, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces successfully struck 15 Russian “shadow fleet” vessels, bringing the total hit to 105 in the past eight days. These strikes targeted seven tankers, five dry cargo ships, a ferry, and two tugboats, all utilized by Russia to circumvent sanctions and support military logistics. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed these destructions, highlighting that the targeted vessels were instrumental in transporting oil and military equipment. In addition to maritime operations, Ukrainian forces also reportedly damaged nine power substations and four Russian air defense assets across occupied territories.
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Russian forces are increasingly disguising fuel shipments as water and milk tankers to evade Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian drone operators have become familiar with this tactic and now treat such disguised vehicles as potential fuel carriers. Despite these efforts, including jamming and sea deliveries, Ukrainian forces continue to target fuel trucks, disrupting Russia’s “land bridge” to occupied Crimea and contributing to fuel shortages and power outages on the peninsula.
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In June, Ukraine dramatically increased its mid- and long-range strikes behind enemy lines, with targets over 50 kilometers from the contact line nearly doubling. This intensified campaign aims to disrupt Russian logistics, particularly in Crimea, contributing to a fuel shortage crisis. Alongside these successes, Ukraine’s military also set new records for strikes on Russian artillery and vehicles, drone and helicopter interceptions, and overall enemy targets hit. The cumulative impact saw almost 28,000 Russian troops killed or seriously injured during the month.
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The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR) reported the successful destruction of a Russian MiG-29 fighter jet and an airfield power unit at the Belbek military airfield. This operation, conducted by the HUR’s Unmanned Systems Department on June 26, also resulted in the destruction of an airfield launching unit servicing the aircraft. The estimated financial losses for the Russian military are in the tens of millions of dollars, contributing to an ongoing Ukrainian campaign to degrade Russian aviation assets and infrastructure in occupied Crimea. This incident follows recent drone strikes authorized by President Zelensky on other Crimean air bases, targeting hangars and aircraft used for strikes against Ukrainian territory.
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During a 48-hour operation on July 1-2, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces successfully targeted 12 power substations and one gas distribution station across Russian-occupied territories. These strikes, which hit facilities in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, are part of an ongoing campaign to disrupt Russian logistics and isolate Crimea. The operation also included a strike on a fuel depot in Melitopol, contributing to an escalating energy crisis on the peninsula. This action follows a pattern of successful Ukrainian drone attacks on energy infrastructure, making it increasingly difficult for Moscow to maintain control and respond to ongoing crises.
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As part of a 40-day campaign approved by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the SBU successfully struck hangars housing Russian fighter jets at the Saky military airfield in occupied Crimea. Drones scored five confirmed hits, targeting military infrastructure crucial to Russia’s aviation forces. Preliminary information suggests two hangars contained Su-30 and Su-30SM jets, with a fire reported in one of them, indicating a successful strike. This operation is part of a broader SBU strategy to systematically degrade Russia’s military potential.
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Ukrainian strikes on Russian military targets have significantly disrupted Moscow’s logistics in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine. These disruptions force some Russian infantry units to travel up to 30 kilometers to reach frontline positions, creating mounting problems for Moscow’s forces in transporting and supplying troops. Furthermore, these attacks contribute to a growing fuel and critical infrastructure crisis within Russia, impacting offensive operations and diminishing the intensity of Russian attacks.
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On June 26, Russian-installed authorities in Crimea declared a regional state of emergency for both Sevastopol and the entire peninsula. This measure, effective immediately, was announced by Crimean head Sergey Aksyonov as a means to regulate economic issues and ensure the stable operation of vital life support systems. The declaration coincides with significant logistical strains across the occupied territory, including a substantial reduction in railway connections and disruptions following recent drone strikes on key infrastructure.
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John Q. Hosedrinker