Ukraine has claimed to have destroyed 21 Russian oil tankers and damaged dozens of other vessels in one of its most ambitious maritime drone operations of the war, signalling an escalation in Kyiv’s campaign to undermine Moscow’s military logistics and energy revenues.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said the operation targeted ships operating in the Sea of Azov that it alleges are used to transport oil and petroleum products in circumvention of Western sanctions, helping generate revenue to finance Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian military, 21 tankers were destroyed during the operation, alongside four tugboats, two dry cargo vessels and a dredger used to support Russian military logistics and maintain port infrastructure.
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The claims have not been independently verified, and Russia had not publicly commented on the operation at the time of writing.
The reported strikes form part of a broader Ukrainian strategy aimed at eroding Russia’s logistical capabilities far beyond the front line.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Kyiv has steadily expanded its use of long-range drones and uncrewed maritime systems to target critical military and economic infrastructure, including warships, oil terminals, refineries, ammunition depots and transport links.
🔴🇺🇦🇷🇺UPDATE: The Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that 21 oil tankers have been struck overnight by Ukrainian drones.
Additionally, 4 tugboats, 2 cargo ships and a dredging vessel used for military logistics have been hit.
A video has been published. pic.twitter.com/c3zBqYuwxl
— BeamTracker | Military OSINT (@BeamTracker_) July 11, 2026
Ukraine argues that disrupting Russia’s maritime trade serves a dual purpose. In addition to complicating military resupply, attacks on oil tankers and associated infrastructure are intended to reduce the Kremlin’s export earnings at a time when energy revenues remain central to financing its war effort.
The commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign “Magyar”, said that Ukrainian forces had struck 76 Russian vessels between July 6 and July 11. He also suggested that shipping through the strategically important Kerch Strait had likely been suspended as a consequence of the attacks.
Brovdi added that overnight operations on July 11 targeted 53 military objectives across occupied Crimea and southern occupied territories, including naval assets and energy infrastructure, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to coordinate simultaneous strikes across multiple theatres.
The latest claims follow another large-scale operation carried out on the night of July 9, when Ukrainian forces said they had struck 12 vessels in the Sea of Azov alongside a Russian oil terminal and an ammunition depot. Satellite imagery published subsequently appeared to show damage to several tankers following the drone attacks, although the full extent of the losses remains unclear.
The Sea of Azov has become an increasingly contested theatre despite Russia’s control of much of the surrounding coastline. Since damaging much of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet through a sustained campaign of missile and maritime drone attacks, Ukraine has shifted greater attention towards disrupting shipping routes supporting Russian military operations in occupied southern Ukraine.
Military analysts say such operations illustrate the changing character of modern naval warfare. Relatively inexpensive uncrewed surface vessels and long-range drones are increasingly able to threaten high-value maritime assets and commercial shipping, forcing Russia to devote additional resources to protecting ports, escorting vessels and reinforcing coastal defences.
For Moscow, any sustained disruption to shipping through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait could complicate the movement of fuel, military equipment and commercial cargo between occupied Crimea and southern Russia. While the strategic impact of the latest operation remains difficult to assess, it highlights Ukraine’s determination to expand the battlefield into domains that directly affect Russia’s military logistics and economic resilience.
Ukraine’s General Staff said operations against Russian maritime infrastructure would continue.
“The Ukrainian Defence Forces will continue to systematically carry out measures aimed at stopping the armed aggression of Russia,” it said.
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