Ukrainian Forces Strike 12 Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels in Black Sea

Ukraine strikes on Russian assets in the Black Sea formed a key part of operations on July 17 that also encompassed a large-scale attack on occupied Crimea featuring explosions, fires at multiple sites, and damage to Russian military infrastructure. Ukrainian forces struck 12 Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea on July 17 as part of that broader effort. [1]

Ukrainian Drone Strikes Hit 12 Shadow Fleet Vessels

Ukrainian forces struck 12 Russian shadow fleet vessels in the Black Sea on July 17, according to Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces. [1] The strikes hit nine dry cargo ships, one oil tanker, one gas carrier, and one tugboat. [1] The operation codenamed Molochka, ongoing since July 6, has struck a total of 159 vessels, with 117 in the Sea of Azov and 42 in the Black Sea. [1] Russia relies on a so-called shadow fleet, consisting largely of aging tankers sailing under flags of convenience, to export oil in circumvention of international sanctions, embargoes, and the G7-led price cap. [1] The fleet enables the Kremlin to sustain oil revenues and continue financing its war against Ukraine. [1] Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. [1]

Large-Scale Attack Targets Russian-Occupied Crimea

Fires broke out at the Kerch railway station in train cars and warehouses, with explosions reported in Koktebel, Feodosia, and on the Arabat Spit near Russian forces, including near the former Baherove airfield. [1] Traffic across the Crimean Bridge was suspended for nearly seven hours overnight, and two air raid alerts were issued in Sevastopol. [1] Explosions were reported across several cities, followed by fires at multiple locations. [1] The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports. [1] Crimea regularly sees Ukrainian efforts to strike military infrastructure in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. [1]

Man killed in Russian attack on Odesa. — Source: ukrainskapravda

Recent Ukrainian Strikes on Russian Aircraft

On July 16, Ukrainian forces struck a Russian Su-24M bomber at the Saky air base in Crimea and two shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea. [1] Ukraine's Omega special forces unit said that it struck a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky air base in Russian-occupied Crimea. [1] "The first drone struck the aircraft's nose section, while the second delivered an additional strike near the fuel tanks, confirming the target had been hit," the unit said. [1] The Security Service of Ukraine said on July 16 that Ukrainian sea drones struck two Russian "shadow fleet" tankers in the Black Sea. [1] On 16 July, the Omega Special Purpose Centre within the National Guard of Ukraine used drones to destroy a Russian Su-24M frontline bomber at the Saky military airbase in temporarily occupied Crimea. [5]

Russian Retaliatory Strikes on Ukrainian Cities

Separately, Russian strikes on July 16-17 damaged the Shchepkin Theatre and a regional library in Sumy, hit energy infrastructure in five oblasts causing power outages, and killed a 60-year-old man in Odesa. [2] [3] [4] A 60-year-old man has been killed in a Russian attack on the city of Odesa. [2] Russian forces struck central Sumy on the night of 16-17 July. [3] The building of the Mykhailo Shchepkin National Academic Drama and Musical Comedy Theatre was damaged in the shelling. [3] Windows in the theatre building were blown out. [3] There were no casualties and no significant damage to the premises. [3] Windows in the building of the regional academic library were also shattered. [3] Russian forces dropped five guided aerial bombs on Sumy on the night of 16-17 July. [3] Civilian infrastructure was hit, including in the city centre. [3] Two people were injured. [3] New power outages have been reported in five Ukrainian oblasts this morning following a large-scale Russian strike. [4] The affected oblasts are Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Sumy. [4] "Emergency repair work is already ongoing wherever security conditions allow. Power engineers are doing everything possible to restore supply to all consumers as quickly as possible." [4] Power engineers are asking consumers to shift active electricity use to between 10:00 and 16:00. [4]

Zelenskyy Announces Destruction of Tu-95 Bomber

President Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine's Security Service destroyed a Tu-95 strategic bomber in the city of Engels, Saratov Oblast, Russia. [5] "I am grateful to our warriors for their accuracy. Once again, there have been successful long-range sanctions [strikes – ed.] against Russia for this war. In particular, the Security Service of Ukraine destroyed a Tu-95 military aircraft in Engels that had been used for Russian missile strikes against our country." [5] Zelenskyy added that the distance from Ukraine's state border is approximately 800 kilometres. [5] "We are defending ourselves justly and proactively. Ukraine's Defence Forces also struck facilities belonging to Russia's oil industry and designated targets in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. We are increasing the price Russia pays for its aggression against our country and our people," Zelenskyy said. [5] The SSU later said that early reports indicate that the aircraft sustained critical damage, with its tail section completely torn off. [5] This aircraft was systematically used to carry out large-scale missile strikes on Ukraine. [5]

Context of Shadow Fleet and Ongoing Campaign

The operation codenamed Molochka has been underway since July 6 and aims to destroy Russia's shadow fleet operating in the Azov and Black Seas. [1] During that period, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 159 vessels. [1] Brovdi said 117 of the vessels were struck in the Sea of Azov and another 42 in the Black Sea. [1] Russia relies on a so-called shadow fleet, consisting largely of aging tankers sailing under flags of convenience, to export oil in circumvention of international sanctions, embargoes, and the G7-led price cap. [1] The fleet enables the Kremlin to sustain oil revenues and continue financing its war against Ukraine. [1] Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia and occupied territories in an effort to diminish Moscow's ability to continue waging its war. [1]

What to watch next: Further updates on the Molochka operation and any additional strikes reported by Ukrainian forces on vessels or infrastructure in the Black Sea and occupied Crimea.

Further Reading

• Ukraine War Map