Ukraine Hits 13 More Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels, Raising Operation Molochka Toll to 172
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Post · Jul 18
Ukraine Hits 13 More Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels, Raising Operation Molochka Toll to 172
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Post · Jul 18
Summary
Thirteen additional vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet were struck on July 18 in the Black and Azov Seas, including eight dry cargo ships, an oil tanker, a gas carrier, a tugboat and two floating cranes.
Operation Molochka has now hit 172 vessels since July 6—118 in the Sea of Azov and 54 in the Black Sea—as Ukraine says it is targeting logistics that move oil, fuel and other cargo around sanctions.
USF commander Robert Brovdi said the campaign aims to disable ships rather than sink them, seeking to leave self-propelled vessels unable to operate while avoiding oil spills and other environmental damage.
Ukraine says the feeder fleet—shallow-draft tankers and tugboats moving cargo from Russian ports to larger Black Sea tankers—is a legitimate military target because it helps finance Moscow’s war and supply Crimea.
The strikes have drawn international dispute: Kyiv told the IMO that Russia’s shadow fleet underpins oil-export revenue, while Moscow has denounced the drone attacks as terrorism against commercial shipping.
If Russia's oil income is soaring, are Ukraine's drone attacks on its 'shadow fleet' actually working?
Will Western powers start sanctioning the countries whose flags allow Russia's shadow fleet to sail and finance the war?
Who pays for the cleanup when one of Russia’s 1,600 uninsured shadow tankers causes a massive oil spill?
Operation Molochka: Ukraine’s Drone Campaign Hits 170+ Russian Ships, Threatening Crimea’s Supply and Global Energy Markets
Overview
As of July 18, 2026, Ukraine’s 'Molochka' campaign is putting strong pressure on Russia’s naval logistics by targeting its vital feeder fleet. This operation aims to disrupt the transport of oil and fuel, especially to restrict supplies reaching Crimea. By disabling feeder vessels and their tugboats, Ukraine directly impedes gasoline delivery to the peninsula. The campaign’s intensity is clear, with Ukrainian drone forces striking 172 Russian shadow fleet ships in just 13 days. These consistent attacks highlight Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to damage Russia’s maritime supply chain and degrade its logistical capabilities in the Black Sea region.