Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces Strike 300 Russian Shadow Fleet Vessels in 11 Weeks
Ukraine‘s Unmanned Systems Forces struck 300 vessels from Russia‘s shadow fleet over 11 weeks as part of Operation MoLoChKa, the service said on September 21. The operation has been ongoing since early July and is aimed at blocking occupied Crimea.
Over 11 weeks of operations, Ukraine‘s Unmanned Systems Forces struck and disabled 134 vessels in the Sea of Azov and 166 in the Black Sea. This significant achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of Ukraine’s military capabilities in countering Russia‘s shadow fleet.
Russian Naval Base Struck
On September 9, Ukrainian forces struck Russia‘s Novorossiysk naval base in Krasnodar Krai. Several Russian vessels, including missile carriers, were destroyed. This strike highlights the vulnerability of Russia’s naval assets and its inability to protect them effectively.
Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign Madyar, also reported a strike on Anapa in Krasnodar Krai. Ukrainian drones destroyed a Russian Su-33 carrier-based fighter jet, a Mi-8 helicopter, and two radar systems – a Kasta-2E2 and a 92N6 used by S-300 and S-400 air defense systems – near Gelendzhik.
Blockade of Crimea
Since early July, as part of a broader operation to blockade occupied Crimea, the Unmanned Systems Forces have been striking Russian transport vessels and shadow fleet ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. On July 20, Brovdi said the capacity of the Kerch ferry crossing had been reduced by 75%.
Defence Express naval expert Volodymyr Zablotskyi told Radio NV that the blockade of Crimea had become systematic, something that had previously been impossible because of a lack of strike capabilities. He added that the blockade is not an end in itself but is intended to cut off supplies to Russian forces remaining in the temporarily occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and force them to leave those territories.
The success of Ukraine‘s Unmanned Systems Forces in striking 300 Russian shadow fleet vessels demonstrates the effectiveness of its military capabilities in countering Russia‘s aggression. The blockade of Crimea is a significant step towards isolating Russian forces and limiting their ability to continue their occupation of Ukrainian territory.
Original Article: Ukraine hits 300 Russian shadow fleet vessels in 11 weeks — Nv