Video: Ukraine Expands Anti-Shipping Campaign Into the Black Sea
Ukraine is expanding its successful anti-shipping campaign from the Sea of Azov into the waters of the Black Sea, targeting Russia-linked merchant ships and adding to a growing toll of Russian losses. Overnight July 15, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) hit 17 oil tankers in the Black Sea, two gas carriers and one tugboat.
In a statement, the "Magyar's Birds" unit said that Ukrainian forces had struck two "LNG carriers." There are no LNG terminals in the Black Sea or Sea of Azov, but there is an active Russian trade in LPG in the region. The vessels depicted in the unit's video release appear to be LPG carriers.
In previous strikes on the small, coastwise vessels found in the Sea of Azov, Ukrainian drone pilots almost exclusively targeted the deckhouse, aiming to destroy the bridge - a tactic likely to cause injuries and fatalities among the crew. During operations in the Black Sea on the 15th, the drone pilots almost exclusively tried to damage cargo tanks - usually a survivable, repairable event on a large crude oil tanker, and less likely to harm the crew.
The news of the runaway success of Ukraine's behind-the-lines strike campaign was undercut Wednesday with news of the dismissal of its organizer, the young tech executive turned defense minister Mykhailo Federov. President Volodymyr Zelensky removed Federov from his post on Wednesday and is expected to replace him dwith Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, a move seen as beneficial for incumbents in Ukraine's defense establishment. During his brief six-month tenure, Federov developed a reputation for shaking up the status quo and taking risks to get technology to the front line, like diverting payroll funds earmarked for the end of 2026 in order to pay for the drone strike capabilities that are in use now. He is said to have had a running feud with more traditional officials, including the Soviet-trained Gen. Oleksandr Syrski, head of the Ukrainian armed forces. In his own sum-up of his accomplishments, Federov said that he "initiated an unpopular but vital transformation of the military."
"Fedorov was widely credited for Ukraine’s turnaround on the battlefield, and for cutting corruption in the military.
Firing him after just six months, and with no explanation, is a really bad look for Zelensky," commented the Wall Street Journal's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Yaroslav Trofimov.
Russia Strikes Mykolaiv as Ukraine Continues Unrelenting Shipping Attacks
Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv for the second time in recent days on Friday morning, July 17, as the two sides continue to intensify the attacks on commercial shipping. Ukraine is 12 days into its campaign against shipping transporting oil, fuel, and cargo to occupied Crimea.
The Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation after three commercial vessels docked in the port were struck this morning. It said the port area was attacked by Shahed-238 type drones. Two Ukrainians who were aboard one of the vessels were killed in the attack.
Two days ago, on July 15, it also reported another strike hitting the port area at 0623 in the morning. It said two Shahed-style drones struck the port area, damaging two commercial cargo ships docked in Mykolaiv. One of the vessels was reported to be flagged in Liberia, and the other in the Cayman Islands.
A 60-year-old seafarer suffered multiple burns in the attack and was transported in serious condition to a hospital. Prosecutors reported he later succumbed to his injuries.
Five hours later, Russian drones also struck a warehouse storing grain. Agricultural machinery was also damaged. A 65-year-old truck driver was seriously injured in the attack and taken to a hospital.
The Russian Defense Ministry said today’s attack was part of an intensifying campaign. It claims to have struck 24 vessels over the past week that it asserted were being used by the Ukrainian military. Last month, it struck two vessels, one registered in Panama and the other in St. Kitts and Nevis, on June 19, and another Turkish-owned vessel registered in Panama on June 22.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry also confirmed that one of its seafarers, a captain of the cargo ship Atlas Bey, was killed in a Russian drone attack on July 14. The vessel was reported to have been off Odesa when it was struck, and a fire resulted. Ten crewmembers were able to abandon the ship, but the captain had been reported missing. His body has now been found and is being brought home to Azerbaijan.
For its part, Ukraine launched its attack on shipping on the Sea of Azov on July 6. Military commanders are now saying a total of 159 vessels have been struck, including 117 in the Sea of Azov and 42 in the Black Sea over the past 12 days.
“The goal is the irreversible paralysis of oil, fuel, and cargo logistics used to bypass sanctions,” said the Ukrainian commanders. “We want every self-propelled vessel to become a drifting barge – blind and deaf. The objective is not to pollute the sea with oil spills, so we are not sinking them.”
The attacks are continuing, with a report that 12 additional ships were hit overnight. They listed it off as nine dry cargo ships, one tanker, and one tugboat. The focus has primarily been on the tankers transporting fuel to Crimea.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again denounced the Ukrainian attacks. He said it is not even piracy, as nothing is being taken. He called it “terrorism,” saying Ukraine simply wants to inflict damage and spread fear.
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