Ukraine Strikes Three Shadow Fleet Tankers on Black Sea and Oil Depots in Russia
Ukraine strikes three Russian shadow fleet tankers on the Black Sea, a floating crane in the Azov Sea, four oil depots in Russia's Stavropol Krai, and other targets, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian military officials reported on July 19. [1]
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Shadow Fleet Tankers
Ukrainian forces struck three Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea, and four oil depots in Stavropol Krai, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on July 19, marking another wave of strikes against Russia's oil trade. [1] "We continue to respond to Russian strikes in a fully justified and accurate manner," Zelensky said on X, shortly after Russia launched one of its heaviest ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv. [1] The news comes hours after the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian long-range drones hit two Russian tankers in the Black Sea and a floating crane in the Azov Sea overnight, as well as a Soviet-era Buk air defense system in Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. [1] The Security Service of Ukraine also reported that its naval drone successfully attacked the third shadow fleet tanker, the Avero, in the Black Sea. [1] "The Avero tanker was involved in transporting Russian crude oil during the oil embargo imposed by the G7 and EU countries. The vessel namely exported oil to China and India," the agency said. [1] Russia uses tankers to transport oil and petroleum products and fuel for its army, while the floating cranes load and unload cargo at the ports, supporting Moscow's military maritime logistics, according to the General Staff. [1]
Oil Depot Attacks in Stavropol Krai
Authorities in Stavropol Krai confirmed Ukrainian drone strikes overnight and reported fires in industrial areas in the north of Stavropol and its outskirts. [1] The city of Stavropol lies over 500 kilometers from the front lines in Ukraine. [1] "Due to fires at industrial facilities, flammable materials are detonating — the sound is audible in Stavropol," Stavropol Krai Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said on his Telegram channel, reporting no casualties. [1] Monitoring channels previously reported Ukrainian strikes against an oil depot in Russia's Stavropol Krai, as well as targets in occupied Crimea and Luhansk Oblast, overnight on July 19. [1] Ukrainian forces struck four oil depots in Stavropol Krai, over 500 km from the front lines, causing fires and detonations of flammable materials with no reported casualties. [1]
Ukrainian strikes damaged three Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Additional Targets Hit in Occupied Territories
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian long-range drones hit two Russian tankers in the Black Sea and a floating crane in the Azov Sea overnight, as well as a Soviet-era Buk air defense system in Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. [1] In the same Facebook post, the General Staff said it also struck a road bridge east of occupied Pokrovsk in eastern Donetsk Oblast, used by Russian troops to keep up their offensive in the sector. [1] Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, further reported strikes against a shadow fleet cargo vessel and 13 electrical infrastructure sites in Crimea and other occupied territories. [1] Additional strikes targeted a Soviet-era Buk air defense system in occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a road bridge east of occupied Pokrovsk, a shadow fleet cargo vessel, and 13 electrical infrastructure sites in Crimea and occupied territories. [1]
Russian Missile Assault on Ukraine
The strikes occurred hours after Russia launched one of its heaviest ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv, part of a large-scale assault using 41 missiles and 125 drones that hit civilian and industrial sites across Ukraine. [1] On the night of 18-19 July, a direct Russian missile strike destroyed the production facilities of ballistic protection equipment manufacturer UKRTAC. [5] A Russian strike hit a logistics hub in Kyiv Oblast on the night of 18-19 July, triggering a major fire. [2] Early reports indicate that two people were injured in the attack. [2] The targeted logistics hub is believed to have been Antel, located in the Bucha district. [2] At around 10:30, firefighters contained the large-scale blaze caused by the Russian attack. [2] The fire engulfed two warehouse buildings with a total area of around 100,000 sq m. [2] Over 200 firefighters, 73 fire appliances and three helicopters were involved in the firefighting operation. [2] Three people were killed and 20 others injured after Russian forces attacked the outskirts of Kharkiv. [3] Nine of those injured were taken to hospital, three of whom are in a serious condition. [3] Syniehubov later said that Russian forces had carried out a missile strike on a postal terminal in the outskirts of Kharkiv. [3] Three men aged 24, 45 and 62 were killed in the attack. [3] The number of those injured has risen to 20, three of whom are in a serious condition. [3] On the night of 18-19 July, Russian forces launched a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine using 41 missiles and 125 drones. [2] Hits by 23 missiles and 10 attack drones were reported, and Kyiv was the main target. [2]
Context of Ukraine's Long-Range Drone Campaign
The reported overnight attacks come as Ukraine ramps up its long-range drone attacks across Russian-occupied territories and deep inside Russia, in an attempt to slowly grind down Russia's war machine from afar. [1] It is difficult to independently assess the effect that these strikes are having on the Russian army's combat operations on the battlefield. [1] Over July, Ukraine launched an intense operation against Russia's shadow fleet on the Black Sea and Azov Sea, hitting dozens of them to cripple logistics in and out of occupied Crimea as the fuel crisis worsens in the peninsula. [1] Ukrainian long-range drones hit two Russian tankers in the Black Sea and a floating crane in the Azov Sea overnight, according to the General Staff. [1] The Security Service of Ukraine reported a successful naval drone attack on the third shadow fleet tanker, the Avero, which had transported Russian crude oil to China and India. [1]
Russian Claims and Unverified Reports
The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reported attacks and the extent of their damage. [1] The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 140 Ukrainian drones across Russia and occupied Crimea, as well as over the Black Sea and Azov Sea, overnight on July 19. [1] Independent verification of damage from the strikes is not available. [1]
What to watch next: Ukraine continues its long-range drone attacks across Russian-occupied territories and deep inside Russia while Russia launched a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine using 41 missiles and 125 drones.
