Eleven more Russian vessels were hit overnight, bringing Ukraine’s Sea of Azov toll to 116 ships in nine days, while the navy said a sea drone destroyed the FSB patrol ship Izumrud near Novorossiysk.
Ukraine said the campaign is meant to choke fuel, ammunition and other logistics feeding Russian forces in occupied southern Ukraine and Crimea by disabling tankers, cargo ships and support vessels.
Maritime security analyst Tomas Alexa called the assault unprecedented in concentration, saying the nine-day total exceeds even the pace of attacks seen during the 1980s Iran-Iraq tanker war.
Russia’s agriculture ministry said grain exports would be rerouted away from the Sea of Azov after the strikes, which helped lift wheat futures to a six-week high on July 10.
The fighting is also hitting civilian shipping: Russia struck four vessels in Ukrainian ports on Monday night, killing three crew on one bulk carrier, and the IMO condemned attacks that endanger seafarers and supply chains.
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90 Russian Ships Struck: Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Transforms Sea of Azov Conflict and Global Trade (July 2026)
Overview
In July 2026, Ukraine launched a concentrated drone strike campaign against Russian maritime assets in the Sea of Azov, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities. Over one week, Ukrainian unmanned systems struck 90 Russian vessels, causing immediate operational disruptions and challenging Russia’s control of the region. This campaign aimed to achieve comprehensive sea denial, severely disrupting Russian naval and logistical operations. Ukraine’s effective use of advanced drones demonstrated a new way to contest maritime dominance, forcing Russia to respond with significant countermeasures and highlighting the growing impact of unmanned systems on modern naval warfare.