Ukraine Strikes Destroy 13 Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels Near Crimea

Ukraine strikes by the Unmanned Systems Forces hit 13 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet near occupied Crimea overnight on 9-10 July, while Russian forces conducted multiple strikes on civilian areas and energy infrastructure in Donetsk Oblast and elsewhere.

Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 13 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet near occupied Crimea on the night of 9-10 July. [1] Of the 13 vessels struck, 10 were tankers, one was a cargo ship, one was a ferry and one was a tugboat. [1] All 10 tankers have been identified as part of Russia's shadow fleet and are subject to international sanctions. [1] The commander also reported strikes on five electrical substations in Crimea, including the 110 kV Berehove substation in Molochne, the 110 kV Saky substation, the 110 kV Mainaky substation in Yevpatoriia, the 110 kV Novoozerna substation in Medvedeve and the 35 kV Medvedeve substation in Medvedeve. [1] These Ukraine strikes targeted vessels identified through direct operational reporting.

Russian Airstrikes on Kramatorsk and Civilian Casualties

Russian forces carried out seven airstrikes on Kramatorsk and the village of Bilenke in Donetsk Oblast on 10 July, killing four civilians, including a 14-year-old and his 18-year-old sister, and injuring nine others. [2] The attack lasted from 15:01 to 15:20. [2] Russian troops carried out seven airstrikes on Kramatorsk and the village of Bilenke. [2] Apartment blocks and residential houses were hit. [2] As a result of the attack, four civilians were killed. Among them were an 18-year-old young woman and her 14-year-old brother. Another nine residents aged 35 to 75 were injured. [2] Under the procedural supervision of the Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office, a pre-trial investigation has been launched into a war crime under Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. [2] Earlier reports indicated that Russian forces had attacked the city for the second time that day, with initial information focused on strikes on the residential sector and injuries. [2]

Russian forces strike Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast for the second time in one day, causing casualties. — Source: ukrainskapravda

Increase in Attacks on Energy Infrastructure

The number of hits on Ukraine’s energy facilities has risen by 36% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. [3] Russia has started attacking Ukraine's energy facilities with 20-25 drones simultaneously. [3] The number of drones launched by Russian forces against a single energy facility has risen from 3-4 at the beginning of the full-scale war to 20-25 in a single attack. [3] Russia also carried out complex attacks, trying to destroy both electricity generation and transmission simultaneously. [3] Ukrenergo's losses alone have already approached UAH 90 billion. [3] The number of hits is rising, especially this year, by 36% compared to the first half of last year. [3] Overall, the company lost around UAH 4 billion in revenue from the beginning of 2026. [3] Ukraine has lost around 50% of its electricity generation capacity, with flexible generation suffering the most damage. [3] In January, an average of 6.1 million metering points were without power simultaneously as a result of Russian large-scale attacks, rising to 6.5 million in February and 3.8 million in March. [3] The actual number of people left without electricity was higher. [3] The highest number of consumers without power at the same time was recorded on 8 February, at more than 12 million. [3]

Drone Attack on Civilian Evacuation Team

Russian forces attacked a White Angel police evacuation team with an FPV drone while officers were evacuating two men from the town of Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblast. [4] The police reported the incident on 10 July, although it had occurred on 8 July. [4] In Druzhkivka, a Russian FPV drone struck the White Angels as they were evacuating a man with reduced mobility in a wheelchair and his son. [4] Three police officers, as well as both evacuees, sustained shrapnel injuries. [4] All survived and are currently receiving medical treatment. [4] Journalists from the Inter TV channel captured the cynical attack on camera. [4]

Ukrainian strikes hit 13 Russian shadow fleet vessels near occupied Crimea. — Source: ukrainskapravda

Identification of Russian Officers in 2023 Hroza Strike

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have identified five Russian military officers responsible for the 2023 missile strike on a café in the village of Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast, which killed 59 local residents. [5] The investigation has identified the specific Russian military personnel involved in planning and carrying out the missile strike. [5] According to the investigation, Rear Admiral Alexei Petrushin, Head of Intelligence, received information about the civilians' location. Following this report, Deputy Commander Vice Admiral Sergei Pinchuk proposed launching a missile strike. The final decision was made by Colonel General Alexei Kim, Chief of Staff. The operation was coordinated by Colonel Dmitry Kozlovsky, Deputy Head of the Missile Forces, while the missile was launched by personnel of the 119th Missile Brigade under the command of Colonel Ivan Petrov. [5] All five have been served with notices of suspicion in absentia on charges of violating the laws and customs of war combined with premeditated murder committed by a group acting in prior conspiracy. [5] To identify those responsible, investigators carried out more than 180 forensic examinations, inspected the scene, conducted 3D scans, analysed missile fragments, reconstructed the missile's flight path and identified the launch site. [5] Earlier, Ukrainian investigators concluded that the coordinates of the civilian target had been passed to Russian forces by two local residents, who subsequently fled to Russia. [5]

Background Context from Recent Days

On the night of 8-9 July, the Unmanned Systems Forces struck 14 vessels in the Sea of Azov, including 12 tankers belonging to Russia's shadow fleet. [1] On the night of 9-10 July, Russian forces attacked the settlement of Shabelkivka in Donetsk Oblast, destroying a residential building under the rubble of which people were found dead. [2] These prior incidents provide additional context to the pattern of Ukraine strikes and Russian responses observed in the latest reporting.

What to watch next: Continued reporting on the pre-trial investigation into the Kramatorsk strikes and updates from the Office of the Prosecutor General on the Hroza case.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map