105 Vessels Seized in Eight Days as Ukrainian Strikes on Crimea Cripple Russia's Shadow Fleet.

Discussion on Attacks Targeting Russian Supply Routes

According to Espreso.tv: Pavlo Lakiichuk, head of security programs at the Center for Globalistics 'Strategy XXI', analyzed the strikes on Russian logistics routes in Crimea and the Sea of Azov, which have brought Moscow's shadow fleet to a halt. The operation against this fleet began on July 6, 2023, and has already achieved notable results. As of July 13, only 43 vessels remain in the Sea of Azov, marking a 67% drop from the 132 ships present before the campaign started.

On the night of July 13 alone, 15 more ships were seized, raising the total number of captured vessels to 105 in just eight days. By July 11, 76 ships had been struck over six days. Lakiichuk stated that

“the main blow was aimed specifically at depriving not only Crimea but also all Russian forces in southern Ukraine of gasoline, fuel-lubricants, and logistics support”

Strategic Moves and International Response

Lakiichuk further explained that the operation included strikes on Azov, particularly targeting anchorages north and south of the Kerch Strait. He noted that

“this is the so-called offshore transshipment at sea, where smaller tankers entering the Sea of Azov would transfer oil at anchorages south of Kerch onto large shadow fleet tankers”

Russia's shadow fleet consists of aging, mostly uninsured tankers used to export crude oil and petroleum products. In light of these events, the European Union is preparing its 21st sanctions package against Russia, specifically targeting the shadow fleet. These actions highlight the international community's stepped-up efforts to counter Russian aggression and curtail Moscow's logistical capabilities in the region.

The operation reflects a strategic approach to diminishing Russia's logistics capacity, which could significantly affect its military activities in the area. The sharp reduction in fleet size, combined with planned EU sanctions, underscores growing international support for Ukraine and attempts to limit the resources Russia uses to wage war. These developments may mark a pivotal step in the fight against aggression and in bolstering security across the Black Sea region.