Ukrainian Drone Strikes Russian Tanker in Sea of Azov
Russia's Rostov region governor reported that a Ukrainian drone hit a tanker entering the Azov-Black Sea Canal on Sunday. The fire was extinguished, and there were no casualties as the vessel was empty.
Yury Slyusar, governor of Russia's Rostov region, said on Sunday that a Ukrainian drone struck a tanker as it was entering the Azov-Black Sea Canal. In a Telegram post, Slyusar stated that the fire caused by the attack had been brought under control, and there was no risk of an oil spill because the vessel was empty, adding that there were no casualties.
The Ukrainian military has recently attacked more than 40 Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov as part of a campaign aimed at disrupting fuel supplies to Russian forces and isolating Moscow-occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said on Telegram that 14 Russian vessels, including 10 tankers, were struck on Sunday, with four ferries among the targets. He added that a total of 90 Russian vessels have been hit in the past seven days.
Ukraine has intensified attacks on logistics and energy infrastructure in Crimea in recent weeks, contributing to fuel shortages and prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency on the peninsula. Ukraine's military also said on Sunday it had hit an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region overnight. Kyiv has stepped up attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure in recent months, seeking to reduce Moscow's revenue from oil product exports that the Kremlin uses to continue its war against Ukraine.
