Russia Deploys Drone Operators from Front Lines to Protect “Shadow Fleet“
Russian military operators are being redeployed from the front lines to secure what is known as Russia‘s “shadow fleet,” a network of mostly old tankers used to circumvent international sanctions on oil and petroleum product exports. According to Browdi, forces from the 51st Air Defense Division and the Black Sea Fleet’s anti-aircraft regiment have also been directed to protect these vessels.
USF Operators Strike Again
On the night of July 17, USF units continued their operation against Russia‘s shadow fleet, striking a total of 12 enemy vessels. This included nine cargo ships, which were targeted by operators from the 9th… (source: Twitter post).
Russian forces are utilizing drones to detect and intercept incoming attacks, as well as portable anti-aircraft systems and machine guns.
What is Russia‘s “Shadow Fleet“?
The “shadow fleet” refers to a network of old tankers primarily used by Russia to circumvent international sanctions on oil and petroleum product exports. According to available estimates, this fleet consists of at least 600 vessels, although some sources suggest it may encompass as many as 1,600 ships worldwide. These are mostly small- to medium-sized tankers.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Again
According to the Ukrainian news portal “Ukrainska Prawda,” between July 6 and 18, Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck a total of 172 Russian vessels, including 118 on the Azov Sea and 54 in the Black Sea. On the night of July 17-18 alone, 13 targets were hit, including eight cargo ships, a tanker, a gas carrier, a tugboat, and two floating cranes.
The goal of these Ukrainian strikes is to disrupt the transport of oil, fuels, and other cargoes being carried in violation of sanctions imposed on Russia.
Original Article: Rosja przenosi operatorów dronów z frontu, by chronić “flotę cieni” — Polsatnews (Polish) | View English Translation