Russia Seeks New Azov Routes After Ukraine Hits 105 Vessels in 8 Days
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Jul 14
Russia Seeks New Azov Routes After Ukraine Hits 105 Vessels in 8 Days
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Jul 14
Summary
Russia said it is developing alternative shipping routes and may curb Azov Sea traffic after Ukrainian forces struck at least 105 Russian vessels in eight days.
10 vessels were hit in one night alone, according to Ukraine's unmanned systems commander, who said Kerch Strait traffic has stopped and cargo unloading has been cut to a minimum.
Ukraine has widened its campaign from land logistics to seaborne targets—especially tankers, ferries and grain shipping—to further isolate occupied Crimea and disrupt fuel supplies already under strain.
Russian ministries said exports and domestic food supply would continue, but pro-Kremlin military bloggers have blamed weak air defenses and poor coordination for Moscow's inability to protect shipping.
The Azov Sea is a key route for supplying occupied Crimea and moving Russian grain and petroleum products, making the strikes a broader test of Russia's ability to adapt to drone warfare.
As Ukraine's attacks force Russia to reroute grain, is the world heading for another food supply crisis?
With its refineries crippled, can Russia’s war economy survive an unprecedented summer fuel crisis?
As AI-powered drones overwhelm Russian air defenses, is Moscow losing the technological war on its own soil?
Operation Crimean Switch Off: How Ukraine’s July 2026 Drone Strikes Disabled 116 Russian Vessels and Upended Black Sea Trade
Overview
In July 2026, Ukraine launched 'Operation Crimean Switch Off,' an unprecedented drone offensive in the Sea of Azov, striking 116 Russian vessels and achieving complete sea denial by targeting both military and shadow fleet ships. This forced Russia to suspend all commercial navigation through the Kerch Strait and Don-Azov Canal, causing severe disruptions and congestion at major ports like Rostov and Taganrog, with long truck queues forming. The campaign not only halted key shipping routes but also deepened Russia’s logistical crisis, marking a turning point in naval warfare by demonstrating the strategic power of mass-produced unmanned systems.