On the night of July 13, 2026, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces claimed to have hit another 15 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov. Simultaneously, the ‘Crimean Switch’ operation continued: energy nodes of occupied Crimea, the Russian S-400 system, Tor air defense systems, and radar complexes were targeted.
Over eight days — from July 6 to July 13, 2026 — Ukrainian drone operators, according to the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, with the call sign ‘Madyar’, hit 105 Russian vessels.
These include tankers, bulk carriers, ferries, tugs, and special vessels involved in supplying occupied Crimea and operating Russian port infrastructure in the Sea of Azov.
On the night of July 12 to 13 alone, Ukrainian drones attacked 15 vessels:
- seven tankers;
- five bulk carriers;
- one ferry;
- two tugs.
Brovdi stated that Ukrainian units continue the ‘battle for fuel for Crimea’, gradually depriving the Russian group of stable maritime logistics.
What happened on the night of July 13
According to the commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces, strikes were carried out on Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov.
Their exact location at the time of the attack, names, and registration details of most targets were not publicly disclosed. However, it is known that these are vessels used for transporting fuel, cargo, and servicing ports that supply Russian troops in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine.
After the night attack, the total result of the operation, according to Brovdi’s calculations, increased from 90 to 105 hit vessels.
The commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces also stated that the intensity of the strikes has already affected movement through the Kerch Strait, unloading of vessels, and the operation of transshipment infrastructure in occupied Crimea.
There is no independent confirmation of a complete halt to shipping through the Kerch Strait yet. However, earlier, Reuters, citing sources, reported a suspension of movement through the Azov-Don Canal after a series of attacks on vessels.
How Ukraine counted 105 hit vessels
The arithmetic declared by the Unmanned Systems Forces consists of several consecutive night operations.
July 6–10: the first 48 targets
The main phase of the strikes began on July 6.
In the following days, the Ukrainian side reported daily on new hits on Russian tankers and auxiliary vessels.
On the night of July 7, Unmanned Systems Forces units claimed an attack on tankers, a bulk carrier, and a ferry. On the night of July 8, nine more tankers were hit, and on July 9, 14 vessels, including 12 tankers, a bulk carrier, and a tug.
On the night of July 10, the list was supplemented by another 13 vessels:
- ten tankers;
- one bulk carrier;
- one ferry;
- one sea tug.
After this, Brovdi reported 48 hit vessels in the first five days of the operation.
July 11: immediately 28 vessels
The largest night attack in terms of the number of targets occurred on July 11.
According to Brovdi, Ukrainian drones hit 28 Russian vessels:
- 21 tankers;
- four tugs;
- two bulk carriers;
- one dredger or special vessel.
After this operation, the total number of hit vessels increased to 76 units.
The Ukrainian side claimed that the vessels were used for military logistics, cargo transportation, and supporting the activities of Russian port infrastructure.
July 12: another 14 targets
On the night of July 12, the Unmanned Systems Forces claimed to have hit:
- ten tankers;
- four ferries.
The total result for the period from July 6 to July 12 reached 90 vessels. Information about the attacks on vessels was also mentioned by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
July 13: the result increased to 105
After the attack on seven tankers, five bulk carriers, a ferry, and two tugs, the number of declared hits reached 105.
Thus, the sequence published by the Ukrainian side looks like this:
| Date | Declared hit vessels | Total result |
|---|---|---|
| July 6–10 | 48 | 48 |
| July 11 | 28 | 76 |
| July 12 | 14 | 90 |
| July 13 | 15 | 105 |
Why these vessels are called the ‘shadow fleet’
The term ‘shadow fleet’ is usually applied to tankers used by Russia to export oil and petroleum products bypassing sanctions, insurance restrictions, and the price cap set by Western countries.
However, in Brovdi’s statements, this concept is used more broadly.
He includes not only large oil tankers in the ‘shadow fleet’ but also bulk carriers, tugs, ferries, dredgers, and other auxiliary vessels involved in Russian logistics in the Sea of Azov.
These vessels can perform several tasks:
- deliver gasoline and diesel fuel to occupied Crimea;
- transport cargo for Russian troops;
- service ports and piers;
- ensure ferry communication;
- support movement in sea channels;
- participate in the transshipment of fuel and other cargo.
Therefore, the goal of the Ukrainian campaign is not only an individual tanker but the entire transport system connecting Russian ports with the occupied peninsula.
NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that strikes on maritime logistics have significance far beyond the Sea of Azov. Russia is forced to spend additional resources on guarding vessels, seeking new supply routes, strengthening port air defenses, and redistributing cargo to the Crimean Bridge and the land corridor through the occupied south of Ukraine.
‘Crimean Switch’: strikes on the peninsula’s energy
Simultaneously with the hunt for Russian vessels, the Unmanned Systems Forces continue an operation called ‘Crimean Switch off’.
On the night of July 13, according to Brovdi, Ukrainian drones hit nine energy nodes and substations of various capacities in the occupied territories.
A strategic electricity transfer point of the Kuban-Crimea energy bridge, designated as the ‘Crimea’ node, was also hit.
Brovdi claims that this object was attacked for the second time in 48 hours.
The energy bridge from the Krasnodar region was built after the Russian occupation of Crimea and became one of the key sources of electricity supply to the peninsula.
Strikes on substations and electricity distribution nodes can create problems not only for civilian infrastructure but also for Russian military facilities, airfields, radar stations, ports, warehouses, and repair enterprises.
Earlier, on July 3, the Unmanned Systems Forces reported hitting ten energy facilities in occupied Crimea. At that time, the Ukrainian side claimed that in just one night, drones attacked 48 different targets.
S-400, ‘Tor’, and two radar stations
In addition to energy facilities, on the night of July 13, Ukrainian units claimed to have hit four elements of the Russian air defense system.
According to Brovdi, the following were destroyed:
- a launcher of the S-400 ‘Triumph’ air defense missile system;
- a ‘Tor’ air defense missile system;
- two radar complexes.
The S-400 is one of the main long-range systems of the Russian air defense. The complex is designed to detect and hit aircraft, cruise missiles, and other aerial targets.
The ‘Tor’ air defense system is used at shorter distances and is supposed to cover military facilities and units from drones, guided bombs, and missiles.
The loss of radar stations creates an additional problem: even the remaining launchers become less effective if the Russian system cannot timely detect a target and transmit data for its destruction.
Earlier in July, the Unmanned Systems Forces also claimed strikes on two S-400 launchers and a ‘Nebo-U’ radar station. According to Ukrainian data, one of the launchers was located near Glazovka in occupied Crimea, and the other in the Kosyonki area of the Bryansk region of Russia.
The battle for fuel for occupied Crimea
Brovdi calls the disruption of fuel supplies the key task of the series of strikes.
Crimea depends on several supply routes:
- sea transportation through the Sea of Azov;
- movement through the Kerch Strait;
- rail and road communication via the Crimean Bridge;
- a land corridor through the occupied areas of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions;
- an energy bridge from the Krasnodar region.
If tankers and ferries stop going to sea or are forced to undergo repairs, the load shifts to land routes.
This increases transportation costs, creates queues, and makes logistics more vulnerable to subsequent strikes.
Even damage to a vessel without its complete destruction can take it out of operation for weeks or months. The shipowner needs to find a safe port, inspect the hull and equipment, replace damaged elements, and obtain permission for further operation.
Moreover, regular attacks increase risks for crews, insurers, and companies that agree to work on routes associated with occupied Crimea.
What the stoppage of the Kerch Strait means
The Kerch Strait is the only maritime route connecting the Azov and Black Seas.
Through it pass vessels heading to the Russian ports of Azov, Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Yeysk, and Temryuk, as well as to the ports of occupied Crimea.
Even a temporary halt in movement creates a chain reaction:
- vessels accumulate waiting for permission to pass;
- the schedule for fuel delivery is disrupted;
- freight costs are rising;
- ports are not receiving cargo on time;
- there are delays in the removal of products;
- Russian military are forced to seek alternative routes.
Brovdi suggested that movement through the strait could have been stopped after the large-scale attacks on July 11.
The Russian side has not officially confirmed a complete and prolonged blockade of the strait. Therefore, it is premature to assert that shipping has completely ceased.
However, reports of temporary movement restrictions and the suspension of the Azov-Don Canal indicate that the strikes have already begun to affect Russian maritime logistics.
Affected does not mean sunk
The figure 105 must be interpreted correctly.
The Ukrainian side claims 105 affected vessels, but this does not mean that all of them were sunk or completely destroyed.
The military term ‘affected’ can mean:
- direct hit;
- hull damage;
- fire;
- engine failure;
- damage to navigation equipment;
- loss of ability to move independently;
- need for long-term repair;
- temporary suspension of operation.
The full list of names of the 105 vessels, detailed photographs of the damage, and an independent assessment of the condition of each vessel have not yet been published.
There is also no independent confirmation of the destruction of all the declared air defense systems and energy facilities.
Therefore, the most accurate wording is: The Ukrainian drone forces claimed to have affected 105 Russian vessels from July 6 to 13, 2026.
Why this operation is important
In eight days, Ukrainian drones, according to the statements of the SBS command, moved from individual strikes to a systematic campaign against Russian maritime, energy, and military infrastructure.
Simultaneously, ships, ports, substations, energy bridges, air defense systems, and radar stations are being attacked.
This approach forces Russia to defend several types of objects at once and stretch limited air defense resources over a large area.
While Russian complexes try to cover energy nodes, ports and ships become more vulnerable. If air defense is transferred to the coast, the risk to airfields, warehouses, and other objects deep in the occupied peninsula increases.
This is the logic of the ‘Crimean Switch’: not a one-time strike, but a gradual destruction of the system that ensures the Russian military presence in Crimea.
The declared 105 affected vessels in eight days still require full independent confirmation. But even if some targets received relatively minor damage, the intensity of the attacks itself shows that the Sea of Azov has ceased to be a safe internal water area for the Russian fleet and transport companies.
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