Ukrainian Drone Attacks Cut Russian Kerch Ferry Capacity by 75%

Ukrainian drone strikes have cut Russia’s Kerch Strait ferry fleet’s transport capacity by 75%.

The announcement comes during a period of intense escalation, as Russia retaliates with one of its largest ballistic missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital to date, alongside growing domestic political tension in Kyiv.

Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces revealed on July 19 that a targeted two-week drone campaign, dubbed Operation “MoLoCHKa” (a Ukrainian acronym for “Moscow will fall because of Crimea”), has systematically dismantled Russia’s shadow ferry operations across the Kerch Strait.

The operation, which began on July 6, aimed directly at cutting off the primary military transit route connecting Russia’s Port Kavkaz to occupied Crimea.

Before the campaign, four vessels (Lavrentiy, Panagia, Eisk, and Maria) and one reserve ship (SKS One) moved 180 to 250 transport units daily, with roughly 80% dedicated to supporting Russian military forces.

Following the drone strikes, the fleet’s capacity has been crippled:

Maria, Eisk, and the reserve vessel SKS One suffered irreparable damage and are completely out of service.

The remaining two ferries, Lavrentiy and Panagia, lost their self-propulsion systems. They can now only operate as barges towed by tugboats, drastically limiting their cargo capacity.

This marks a major win for Ukraine’s broader “logistical lockdown” initiative, which focuses on suffocating Russian troop movements, hardware transport, and provisioning across occupied territories.

Following the logistics collapse in the Kerch Strait, Russia unleashed a massive aerial assault on Kyiv, firing 41 ballistic missiles in what Ukrainian officials call the largest single barrage targeting the capital since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

“Nearly 600 rescue workers, medics, police officers, and emergency personnel were deployed across the city to manage the aftermath”, said Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi.

Adding to the wartime pressure, Ukraine is navigating internal political shockwaves following President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to dismiss the country’s defence minister.

The abrupt leadership shift has ignited public protests across the country and raised concerns among front-line troops regarding military command continuity during a crucial phase of the war.