Ukrainian Forces Strike 21 Russian Tankers, 4 Tugboats, 2 Cargo Ships

The Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a series of large-scale strikes against Russian maritime logistics on Saturday, July 11, hitting 21 oil tankers, four tugboats, and two dry cargo ships in the Sea of Azov.

In a statement on Telegram, the General Staff detailed the toll exacted on the Russian commercial and auxiliary fleets, stating that the goal of the operation was to degrade the “military-economic potential of the Russian aggressor.”

“Thus, 21 tankers of the Russian Federation were hit,” the General Staff reported. “The tankers are used to transport oil and petroleum products bypassing international sanctions, providing funds to finance the armed aggression against Ukraine.”

In addition to the blow to the tanker fleet, the military confirmed the targeting of auxiliary and supply vessels. “Also hit were four tugboats, two dry cargo ships, and a dredger, which are used by the enemy to provide military logistics, transport cargo, and support the operation of port infrastructure,” the statement read, noting that the exact extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Operations halt in the Kerch Strait

The sheer volume of vessels targeted in this operation has forced an immediate halt to critical Russian shipping routes.

According to sources cited by Reuters, the Russian Border Guard Service has stopped accepting applications from shipping companies seeking transit through the Kerch Strait and the Don-Azov Canal, effectively freezing commercial navigation between the Black and Azov seas. Russian authorities have not provided a timeline for reopening the strait.

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Because the Azov Sea handles up to 25% of Russia’s outbound wheat shipments – with major agricultural hubs in Rostov and Krasnodar situated along its coast – the closure immediately impacted global food markets. Following reports of the shipping restrictions, wheat futures on the Euronext exchange surged by nearly 4%, reaching a six-week high.

Continued strikes in Taganrog

The strikes targeting the 27 vessels detailed by the General Staff are part of a sustained campaign.

Yury Slyusar, governor of Russia’s Rostov region, stated that drones attacked four vessels in the Gulf of Taganrog early Saturday morning, including a tanker transporting methanol. Slyusar claimed the targeted ships sustained only “minor damage” and asserted there was no threat of chemical leaks.

He added that Russian air defenses intercepted over 15 uncrewed aerial vehicles targeting the Taganrog area, as well as the Azovsky and Neklinovsky districts.