Ukraine drone attacks halt shipping in Russia's Sea of Azov
Ukrainian drone strikes have forced Russia to suspend vessel traffic through the Sea of Azov, disrupting a key maritime corridor for oil, grain and other exports.
Ukraine’s drone forces reported hitting multiple tankers, ferries and an oil refinery in the city of Syzran, prompting Russia to suspend shipping through the Sea of Azov on Friday, according to Reuters. The closure affects the Don-Azov canal, which links the Sea of Azov with the Russian river network and the Caspian Sea, effectively cutting off the export route that runs through the Kerch and Bosphorus straits.
"The Kremlin has lost control of a critical maritime corridor," said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian defence minister, adding that the blockade impacts both military vessels and grain shipments that have been moved through ports such as Berdyansk and Mariupol.
The attacks are part of a broader Ukrainian campaign aimed at degrading Russia’s logistical capacity. Yevgeniya Gaber, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the strikes are intended to isolate Crimea and reduce Russia’s ability to sustain offensive operations by targeting fuel supplies and transport infrastructure.
Ukrainian officials also reported strikes on electricity substations in occupied Crimea and a tanker fire as vessels entered the Azov-Black Sea canal. Video released by the Ukrainian unit Magyar’s Birds showed damaged Russian tankers with protective cages, some abandoned and adrift.
The disruption has broader economic implications, as the Sea of Azov is a vital conduit for Russian oil, grain, steel and other products destined for international markets. Crimea authorities have declared a state of emergency amid widespread electricity outages and fuel shortages.