Photo: Screenshot from the video
Ukrainian forces struck 11 more vessels from Russia's so-called shadow fleet in the Black and Azov seas on July 16, bringing the total number of targeted ships to 147 since the launch of Operation MoLoChKa on July 6, according to Commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces Robert "Madyar" Brovdi.
Brovdi said the latest strikes targeted five oil tankers, one LNG carrier, three cargo ships, and two tugboats. The operation involved the 9th "Kairos" Battalion of the 414th Separate Brigade "Madyar's Birds," the 1st Separate Unmanned Systems Center, and the 20th Separate Brigade "K-2."
According to the commander, Ukrainian forces have struck 117 vessels in the Sea of Azov and another 30 in the Black Sea over the first 10 days of the campaign.
Brovdi said the operation aims to disrupt Russia's oil, fuel, and cargo logistics used to circumvent international sanctions. He stressed that the objective is to disable vessels without breaching their hulls or causing oil spills.
"The goal is to turn every self-propelled vessel into a drifting barge — blind and deaf. We are not trying to pollute the sea with oil slicks, so no hull breaches," he said.
Operation MoLoChKa began on July 6. Ukrainian forces initially reported striking 28 vessels in a single night, followed by 90 vessels during the first week of the campaign. After completing the first phase in the Sea of Azov, the operation expanded into the Black Sea, targeting oil tankers, gas carriers, and other vessels allegedly used by Russia to evade international sanctions.
