Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) struck 14 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight on July 9, bringing the four-day total to 35 ships hit since July 6, according to USF Commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi.
Ukraine Hit 36 Russian Vessels in Six Days: July 3–9, 2026
Ukrainian forces claimed strikes on 36 Russian vessels between July 3 and July 9, 2026: 32 tankers, 2 cargo ships, 1 ferry, and 1 tugboat. The strikes hit ships in the Sea of Azov, Taganrog Bay, and waters off occupied… pic.twitter.com/rbeXZvpKmx
— WarDroneX (@WarDroneXX) July 9, 2026
The overnight haul included 12 tankers, one dry cargo ship, and one tugboat. Ukraine’s General Staff said the targeted vessels carried fuel for Russian troop groupings and moved oil in circumvention of international sanctions. The extent of damage is still being assessed, the General Staff stated.
These claims have not been independently verified. Rostov Oblast Governor Yuri Slyusar, however, confirmed on social media that two tankers caught fire in Taganrog Bay after a drone attack, with crews evacuated and no casualties reported. Slyusar said air defenses downed more than 20 drones over Rostov Oblast the same night.
One named target, Chelsea-6, illustrates the sanctions-evasion infrastructure Ukraine says it is dismantling. Ukraine’s 414th Unmanned Strike Aviation Brigade identified the vessel as Russian-flagged, but the Equasis shipping database lists it as a Palau-flagged general cargo ship built in 2008.
AIS tracking data placed the vessel in the southern Black Sea region. The flag discrepancy is consistent with how shadow fleet operators use registries from third-party nations to obscure ownership and evade Western sanctions on Russian energy exports.
Ukraine also struck the Yug Rusi oil terminal in Rostov Oblast overnight, part of a broader energy disruption effort that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X included hits on oil depots in Stavropol and Tver regions, an oil pumping station in Ufa, and a reserve fuel storage facility roughly 500 miles from the front line.
Our warriors are carrying out the long-range sanctions plan in response to Russia dragging out the war and continuing its attacks. Recent days saw important successful strikes on facilities supporting Russia’s oil sector and sustaining its war policy.
SSU warriors struck two oil… pic.twitter.com/4o23HYwfkr
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 9, 2026
Bloomberg reported the strikes are deepening a nationwide gasoline shortage in Russia, though the outlet was unable to independently verify the vessel count.
