Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi said Ukrainian drones hit 21 Russian tankers plus other vessel types—tugboats, dry cargo vessels, and a specialized vessel—in the Sea of Azov overnight on July 11. He said the operation recorded dozens of successful strikes and that the “shadow tanker fleet” was shrinking, adding that it appeared traffic through the Kerch Strait had been stopped.

Ukraine’s General Staff said the targeted tankers were used to transport oil and petroleum products while evading international sanctions, which it said helped finance Russia’s war effort. The military said it was still clarifying the extent of damage from the strikes.

The article also reports that the drone offensive is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Russian shipping and logistics. It cites Reuters reporting that, on July 10, Russia temporarily suspended navigation through the Don-Azov Canal; shipping applications for passage through the Kerch Strait were reportedly not accepted starting at 6:10 p.m. local time, with no specified end time. It adds that analysts estimate a significant portion of Russia’s wheat exports transit through the Sea of Azov, and that wheat futures rose amid concerns about possible disruptions.