Ukraine Knocks Out Kerch Strait Ferry, Disrupting Russian Fuel Supplies
Ukraine has launched another attack on the ferry crossing at Kerch Strait, forcing the operator to shut it down and divert military truck traffic onto the Mariupol-Melitopol highway - where it will be within range of constant Ukrainian drone strikes.
Overnight Saturday, Ukraine's drone forces hit the port at Kerch, Crimea, destroying the majority of the fuel tanks at the marine terminal. Fires were also reported at Kavkaz, on the opposte side of the strait.
Drones also struck at least one ferry, the Elena II, a commercial rail-ferry that state enterprise Rosmorport purchased from a Greek operator in 2024. It had been in operation on the Kerch Strait route since mid-2025.
Unverified bystander video footage suggests that at least one other vessel was also hit, and local reports indicate that the ferry service is now out of commission. Fuel trucks are reportedly being diverted from the ferry crossing to the "R-280" road from occupied Mariupol to Crimea, where they will be targeted by Ukraine's medium-strike drone forces.
Russia has another alternative in the form of the Kerch Strait Bridge, a first-rate road and rail crossing adjacent to the ferry route. But the Russian military has been reluctant to use this symbol of Russian presence for the purpose of moving munitions and fuel, as Ukraine has proven adept at leveraging secondary explosions and fires to cause outsize damage. In an attack in 2022, rail tank cars of fuel burst and burned for hours, likely weakening the rail span. The rail bridge's maximum weight capacity was reduced as a precautionary measure. After this hard-earned lesson, the Russian military has made every effort to keep its cargoes of artillery shells and diesel fuel off of the bridge, using the ferries at Kerch as an alternative for hazardous goods (until now).
The R-280 road is itself a poor substitute: in addition to strikes on trucks on the roadway, Ukrainian forces have systematically destroyed road bridges near Crimea, slowing down truck movements. As a consequence of the logistics breakdown, fuel supplies on the peninsula are growing scarce. Russian authorities announced new rationing measures on Sunday, restricting fuel distribution to military and government use only.
Egyptian Seafarer Killed as Russian Drones Hit Three Ships off Ukraine
Ukraine is once again denouncing Russian attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea, reporting that one seafarer was killed on Monday, June 22. The strikes came as both sides have intensified their attacks in recent weeks.
Ukrainian officials said a small general cargo ship named Victress (2,386 dwt) was struck on its way to Ukraine. A large fire broke out on the vessel, and as a result, the ship’s Egyptian cook, a 58-year-old, was killed. Eight other crewmembers were able to enter a life raft and were rescued by the Ukrainian Navy.
Built in 1992, the 75-meter (246-foot) long vessel has been operating for Turkish interests since 2018. Reports indicate the ship was making regular trips into the Black Sea.
A video appearing on social media appears to show the bridge and accommodation block of the vessel on fire. Reports said the ship sustained significant damage and is now anchored offshore.
Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, wrote online that the attacks were “a clear demonstration that Russia’s words cannot be trusted. Russia remains the main threat to Black Sea security and prosperity.”
The Ukrainian Navy confirmed that it had conducted a rescue operation. It said, “This case once again demonstrates that the Russian Federation continues to violate the norms of international maritime law and create threats to civilian shipping. The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will continue to do everything possible to make the seas safe.”
Later, Oleksiy Kuleba, Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction, announced that two other vessels had also been struck. He said the ships were flying the flags of Belize and Palau. The report said there were no injuries on these two vessels and that they had continued their journey.
The attacks on the three ships were part of a larger wave of attacks on Ukraine. The port city of Odesa was also hit with reports that two people were killed in a missile strike.
Kuleba, last week, said that 257 civilians have been injured or killed as a result of the attacks on Ukraine’s ports since the start of the war. He reported that Russia has damaged or destroyed 966 port infrastructure facilities and hit more than 200 commercial vessels since it started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kuleba wrote online that the attacks require a decisive response from the international community.
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