Ukraine claims to have struck eight Russian oil tankers from the "ghost fleet" in the Sea of ​​Azov

The Ukrainian army announced on Tuesday that it had attacked eight Russian oil tankers belonging to what it calls Moscow's "ghost fleet." According to Kyiv, these ships were carrying fuel destined for occupied Crimea, as part of a campaign to disrupt Russian logistical capabilities in the region.

In a statement published on Telegram, the Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems forces claimed to have targeted eight ships in the Sea of ​​Azov. They specified that each vessel was subject to international sanctions and had a deadweight tonnage of approximately 7,000 tons. Ukrainian authorities, however, did not provide details on the extent of the damage.

This announcement comes the day after another statement from Ukrainian forces, who claimed to have already struck two other ships belonging to the same clandestine fleet in the area. Kyiv has been intensifying its operations for several weeks against energy and logistical infrastructure linked to Crimea, a territory annexed by Russia in 2014 before the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to Ukrainian forces, these attacks aim to disrupt the supply of fuel and ammunition to Russian troops. "Striking enemy naval logistics complicates the supply of fuel and ammunition necessary to support the activities of Russian troops," they stated, referring in particular to forces deployed in Crimea.

The Ukrainian military released black-and-white images, purportedly from drones, showing targeted ships that appeared to be on fire. These images and Kyiv's claims could not be independently verified.

For several months, Ukraine has been calling on its international allies to strengthen measures against ships used to circumvent Western sanctions and allow the export of Russian oil. Ukrainian forces have already carried out several attacks with maritime drones against ships transporting Russian hydrocarbons in the Black Sea, with the aim of reducing the revenue that allows Moscow to finance its war effort.