Ukraine Says Unmanned Systems Forces Hit 90 Russian Vessels In Sea Of Azov In One Week

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) said it struck 90 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov during a week-long drone campaign, targeting ships that Kyiv says support Russia’s military logistics and oil transportation.

According to USF Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, Ukrainian drone operators struck one tanker, tugboat, ferry or dry cargo vessel every 112 minutes between July 6 and July 12.

He said the latest overnight operation into July 12 targeted 10 tankers and four ferries, bringing the total number of vessels hit during the week to 90.

“Fourteen overnight, 90 vessels in one week,” Brovdi wrote on social media.

The Sea of Azov has become an important route for Russian military logistics and cargo movements linked to occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ukrainian officials say the campaign is intended to disrupt those supply routes and make it harder for Russia to move fuel and military cargo.

The Unmanned Systems Forces said operators from the 9th Kairos Battalion of the 414th “Magyar’s Birds”, the 1st Unmanned Systems Corps, the 412th Nemesis Brigade, the 1st Separate Center and Raid 413 took part in the latest attacks.

According to the USF, the overnight operation struck 10 tankers in the Sea of Azov, one ferry in the Sea of Azov and three ferries near Kerch.

Ukraine’s General Staff also confirmed strikes on 10 Russian tankers and four ferries during operations on July 11 and overnight into July 12.

It said the tankers were being used to transport Russian oil and petroleum products to bypass international sanctions, while the ferries were supporting military logistics and cargo transportation for the Russian armed forces.

The General Staff also reported a strike on the Syzran oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region. It said explosions and a fire were recorded at the refinery, while the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

According to Ukraine, the refinery can process about 8.5 million tonnes of oil a year and produces gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel and other petroleum products, including fuel used by the Russian military.

Ukraine also said it struck a train carrying fuel and lubricants near Tokmak in the occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region on July 11, with locomotive hits recorded.

In a separate update, the General Staff said damage had been confirmed at the NOVATEK-Ust-Luga oil refinery complex in Russia’s Leningrad region following a strike carried out on July 10.

The latest attacks follow several days of reported strikes on Russian shipping.

On July 11, Brovdi said Ukrainian forces had struck 21 Russian tankers along with tugboats, cargo vessels and other watercraft operating in the Sea of Azov. A day earlier, the USF reported strikes on 13 tankers that Ukraine says are linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.

The USF said attacks on tankers and ferries are intended to make it more difficult for Russia to use these vessels to move oil and petroleum products and support military logistics.

Videos released by the USF and the 414th “Magyar’s Birds” brigade showed drone strikes on several vessels. The brigade said 14 vessels, 10 tankers and four ferries, were struck during the overnight operation on July 12.

Another Night. Another 15 Vessels of russia’s Shadow Fleet Struck by USF Operators.

On the night of July 13, the following targets were struck:

• 7 tankers in the Sea of Azov. The strikes were carried out by operators of the 9th Kairos Battalion of the @414magyarbirds , the… pic.twitter.com/NdjStjOEDf

— Unmanned Systems Forces (@usf_army) July 13, 2026

Russian officials also reported drone activity in the area.

Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar said a drone struck a tanker in the Don-Azov Canal. He said the vessel was empty, the fire was quickly contained and no one was injured. He also said Russian air defence systems intercepted 20 Ukrainian drones over the Rostov region.

Reuters reported that Russia temporarily suspended shipping through the Don-Azov Canal after a series of Ukrainian drone attacks.

Separately, Ukrainian officials and analysts said the strikes are aimed at disrupting Russian logistics supporting operations in occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine.

Ukraine has not released an independent assessment of the damage to all 90 vessels, and the reported figures have not been independently verified.

Ukraine’s General Staff said operations against Russian military, logistics and energy infrastructure would continue as part of its campaign to reduce Russia’s military and economic capabilities.

References: ukrinform, kyivpost