Ukrainian commander says flying drones have disabled 300 tankers in Russia's shadow fleet
A Ukrainian drone commander claims that uncrewed aerial vehicles have disabled 300 tankers belonging to Russia's 'shadow fleet' over the past 11 weeks. The campaign, dubbed Operation MoLoChKa, aims to disrupt Russian logistics and oil exports via the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.
Why it matters
This highlights the evolving nature of modern naval warfare, where low-cost drone technology is being used to challenge traditional maritime logistics and sanctioned trade routes.
Russia's shadow fleet vessels wait in the unofficial anchorage area in the Gulf of Finland. Ints Kalnins/REUTERS Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces say it's hit 300 shadow fleet tankers in 11 weeks. It's part of Operation MoLoChKa, a Ukrainian effort to kneecap Russia's war effort through Crimea. The claim comes as Ukraine's drone tech and AI now allow it to reliably conduct long-range aerial strikes. A top Ukrainian drone commander said on Tuesday that his forces have used uncrewed aerial vehicles to knock out 300 ships in Russia's "shadow fleet" over 11 weeks. Maj. Robert "Magyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said as drone crews reached this tally after they attacked and "burned" 21 tankers over the last three days. The strikes have been part of a Ukrainian campaign from early July targeting the hundreds-strong fleet of merchant tankers assessed to be carrying sanctioned Russian gas and oil.
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