Ukrainian commander says drones have disabled 300 tankers in Russia’s shadow fleet

Maj. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said his forces used uncrewed aerial vehicles to knock out 300 ships in Russia’s “shadow fleet” over 11 weeks. He said drone crews reached that figure after attacking and “burning” 21 tankers over the last three days. The campaign, according to the report, began in early July and targets merchant tankers assessed to be carrying sanctioned Russian gas and oil.

Although many shadow-fleet vessels access Russia from the Baltic, the Ukrainian effort has focused on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Brovdi said Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces disabled 166 ships in the Black Sea and 134 in the Sea of Azov. His statement said the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait are “closed,” while parts of the Black Sea remain risky for vessels trying to move through.

The campaign is called Operation MoLoChKa, an acronym translated in the report as “Moscow will fall through Crimea.” Brovdi has championed using mid- and long-range drones to apply pressure on Crimea, the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. The article describes Crimea as a key logistical hub for Russia’s southern front and says Ukraine has targeted roads, bridges, energy facilities, and transport vessels to create resource shortages.

The report says Operation MoLoChKa relies on aerial drones as counter-jamming, artificial intelligence, and flight technology improve Ukraine’s ability to strike Russia’s rear. Kyiv had previously relied on surface and underwater drones to battle Russia’s navy and push back its Black Sea Fleet from Ukraine’s coast. Separately, Ukraine has pursued a broader long-range drone campaign against Russia’s oil and gas industries; Ukraine’s armed forces said Tuesday they had knocked out 45% of Russia’s oil refining capacity.