Ukraine Says It Hit 48 Russian Vessels in Five Days, Including 18 Overnight

Ukraine said on Friday it had carried out a large-scale overnight drone operation targeting Russia’s military logistics, striking 18 vessels, including 13 oil tankers linked to Moscow’s sanctioned “shadow fleet,” as well as oil infrastructure and energy facilities in Russia and occupied Crimea.

Ukraine’s General Staff said the operation hit 13 tankers, three cargo ships, one ferry and one auxiliary vessel, which it said were being used to transport fuel, military cargo and other supplies supporting Russia’s war effort.

Separately, Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said drone units struck 13 vessels near Russian-occupied Crimea overnight. According to Brovdi, the targets included 10 tankers, one cargo ship, one ferry and one tugboat, adding that all of the tankers had been identified as part of Russia’s sanctioned shadow fleet.

The General Staff also reported strikes on several fuel infrastructure facilities inside Russia, including the Ilsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region, where explosions triggered a fire.

The refinery is one of southern Russia’s largest oil-processing facilities, with an annual processing capacity of up to 6.6 million metric tons. Ukrainian officials said it produces gasoline, diesel fuel and other petroleum products used to support Russia’s military logistics.

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Ukraine Says 35 Shadow Fleet Ships Struck in 4 Days After Another 14 Struck Overnight

Ukraine says it also struck 45 military targets in occupied Crimea as its campaign against Russia’s sanctioned shipping intensifies.

Additional strikes targeted the Kurgannefteprodukt oil terminal in Taganrog and the Azovnefteprodukt oil depot in Azov, both in Russia’s Rostov region. Fires, explosions and smoke were reported at the sites, although the extent of the damage has not yet been independently verified.

The General Staff also said Ukrainian forces struck the NOVATEK Ust-Luga gas condensate processing complex in Russia’s Leningrad region, one of the country’s largest facilities for processing gas condensate into refined petroleum products. The plant has an annual processing capacity of about 7 million metric tons, according to the Ukrainian military, which said the facility supplies Russia’s armed forces.

In occupied Crimea, Brovdi said Ukrainian drones also struck five electrical substations, including facilities near Saky, Yevpatoriya and Medvedeve, though he did not provide details on the damage.