Video: Ukrainian Drones Hit 11 More Vessels Linked To Russia’s Shadow Fleet In Black Sea And Sea Of Azov

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) said its drone operators struck 11 more vessels linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet on July 16, targeting ships in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The strikes targeted five oil tankers, one gas tanker, three dry cargo vessels and two tugboats, according to USF Commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdi.

The operation, named “MoLoChKa”, has struck a total of 147 vessels that Ukraine identifies as belonging to Russia’s shadow fleet between July 6 and July 16.

According to Brovdi, 117 of those vessels were struck in the Sea of Azov and 30 in the Black Sea.

Brovdi said the objective was to paralyse the logistics of oil, fuel and cargo transported in circumvention of sanctions by turning self-propelled vessels into “drifting barges, blind and deaf.”

He added that the operation was not intended to pollute the sea with oil spills and therefore did not aim to cause hull breaches.

Unmanned Systems Forces operators struck 11 more vessels from russia’s shadow fleet

On July 16, USF units continued Operation “MoLoChKa.” In total, 147 vessels belonging to russia’s shadow fleet were struck between July 6 and July 16.

Of these:
• 117 vessels in the Sea of… pic.twitter.com/IsEquMOAWb

— Unmanned Systems Forces (@usf_army) July 16, 2026

The USF said the five oil tankers were struck by operators from the 9th “Kairos” Battalion of the 414th Separate Brigade “Birds of Magyar”, the 1st Separate Center and the 20th K-2 Separate Brigade.

The gas tanker and two tugboats in the Black Sea were struck by the 1st Separate Center, while the three dry cargo vessels were targeted by the 9th “Kairos” Battalion.

Ukraine’s General Staff also said its Defence Forces struck six Russian tankers, two tugboats, an oil depot, bridges and other military targets during overnight operations on July 16.

The USF said Operation “MoLoChKa” is intended to disrupt the movement of oil, fuel and cargo by vessels that Ukraine says are part of Russia’s shadow fleet while avoiding damage that could lead to oil spills.

References: ukrinform, pravda