Ukraine Hits 13 More Russian Vessels as Moscow Diverts 200 Drone Groups to Guard Shadow Fleet
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 19
Ukraine Hits 13 More Russian Vessels as Moscow Diverts 200 Drone Groups to Guard Shadow Fleet
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 19
Summary
Thirteen more Russian vessels were struck over the past day — including eight dry cargo ships, an oil tanker, a gas tanker, two floating cranes and a tugboat — with the tanker hit in the Sea of Azov and the rest in the Black Sea.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said the attacks have pushed Russia to pull drone units from the front, assigning up to 200 Rubicon groups and additional air-defense assets to protect individual shadow-fleet ships.
Since July 6, Ukraine's "MoLoCHKa" operation has hit 172 vessels used to move Russian oil and cargo under foreign flags, targeting a sanctions-evasion network that also supports Moscow's war logistics.
The maritime campaign fits Ukraine's broader summer push to isolate Crimea by disrupting supply routes, with former defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov saying drone strikes could effectively turn the peninsula into "an island."
If Russia's oil income is soaring, are Ukraine's drone attacks on its 'shadow fleet' actually working?
Will Western powers start sanctioning the countries whose flags allow Russia's shadow fleet to sail and finance the war?
Who pays for the cleanup when one of Russia’s 1,600 uninsured shadow tankers causes a massive oil spill?
Operation Molochka: Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Hits 170+ Russian Ships, Threatening Crimea’s Supply and Global Energy Markets
Overview
As of July 18, 2026, Ukraine’s 'Molochka' campaign is putting strong pressure on Russia’s naval logistics by targeting its vital feeder fleet. This operation aims to disrupt the transport of oil and fuel, especially to restrict supplies reaching Crimea. By disabling feeder vessels and their tugboats, Ukraine directly impedes gasoline delivery to the peninsula. The campaign’s intensity is clear, with Ukrainian drone forces striking 172 Russian shadow fleet ships in just 13 days. These consistent attacks highlight Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to damage Russia’s maritime supply chain and degrade its logistical capabilities in the Black Sea region.