Massive Ukrainian Strikes Hit Russian Tankers, Warships, and Bridges: New Details Emerge.

Ukraine’s Military Targets Key Russian Infrastructure

According to UATV: On July 16–17, 2023, units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched strikes against several critical Russian military assets. The list of targets included:

• tankers
• a tugboat
• a patrol ship
• oil terminals
• bridges

These operations are part of a broader campaign aimed at degrading the enemy’s military resources and logistics.

Results of the Attacks

The strikes damaged two tankers—one of them a gas carrier—along with a tugboat. Among the other targets was the patrol ship 'Svetlyak,' stationed in Kerch, Crimea. Additional facilities hit include:

• the oil terminal 'TES-Terminal-1'
• a fuel and lubricants depot in Kerch
• the 'Shakhtersk' oil base in Shakhtarsk, Donetsk region

Infrastructure strikes also damaged a railway bridge over the Kalmius River near Staromarievka and a road bridge near Kozino in Russia’s Kursk region.

The attacks further impacted the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia. This facility processes roughly 15 million tons of oil annually. Ukraine’s General Staff stated that the targeted tankers were used to transport Russian oil, petroleum products, and compressed gas in circumvention of international sanctions, as well as to deliver fuel for the Russian armed forces.

The vessels involved—Project 10410 'Svetlyak' class ships—are designed for maritime patrol and escort duties. They can be deployed to support Russian naval operations and other security forces. Notably, between July 6 and 16, 2023, Ukrainian forces struck 147 Russian vessels, highlighting an intense phase of combat in the region.

These strikes underscore Ukraine’s strategy of dismantling the logistics chains that sustain Russian military operations, and they signal the continuation of active hostilities in the area. Disabling tankers and refining capacity could significantly hinder Russia’s ability to supply its troops and pressure its economy, especially under existing international sanctions. Ongoing developments indicate that the conflict in Ukraine remains a focal point of global attention.