Kyiv claims 11 Russian vessels struck in Sea of Azov as Moscow denies export disruption
Strategic pressure mounts on Russia’s southern export corridor as Kyiv targets the “shadow fleet” and Crimea’s fuel supplies, while the agriculture ministry maintains that freight traffic will continue unaffected.
Ukraine’s drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck 11 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight on Tuesday. The reported targets comprised five tankers, five dry cargo vessels, and a tugboat. According to Brovdi’s statement on Telegram, this latest action brings the total number of vessels hit in the region over the past nine days to 116.
The Sea of Azov is a critical waterway situated between Russia, the southern stretch of Ukraine occupied by Moscow’s army, and Russia-annexed Crimea. The route serves as a vital artery for Russian exports, accounting for approximately a quarter of the country’s grain shipments. The area has faced ongoing restrictions and attacks on commercial vessels by Ukrainian forces in recent months.
In response to the strikes, the Kremlin moved to reassure domestic and international markets. Russia’s agriculture ministry insisted on Tuesday that exports would continue and that the situation in the Azov Sea would not affect the domestic market's food supply or the country's export capabilities. The ministry stated that safety measures were being implemented and that Russia was exploring alternative routes for freight traffic to mitigate any potential disruptions.
Ukraine has framed the campaign as a strategic effort to degrade Russia’s logistical capabilities. Brovdi stated that the aim of the attacks was to damage Russia’s “shadow fleet” and limit petrol supplies to Moscow-controlled Crimea. The commander linked these operations to the broader context of a domestic fuel crisis currently affecting Russia.
While Kyiv asserts that these strikes are successfully disrupting Russian logistics, the operational impact remains a point of contention. The exact extent of damage to the 11 vessels has not been independently verified, and the cumulative statistic of 116 vessels hit in nine days is based solely on Ukrainian claims. Moscow continues to maintain that its export infrastructure remains resilient despite the repeated attacks.
