Ukrainian drones struck the occupiers' shadow fleet and air defense systems in Crimea

On the night of July 20, Ukrainian drones carried out a series of strikes against the occupiers’ military, energy, and logistics infrastructure in Crimea, as well as against targets in the Krasnodar Krai. According to the Unmanned Systems Forces, the attacks targeted ships, power substations, and air defense systems.

Thiswas reportedby Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces

The Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported the results of nighttime operations on July 20 against Russian military targets in the temporarily occupied Crimea and on Russian territory.

According to him, as part of Operation “MoLoChKa,” seven vessels of the Russian “shadow fleet”—three tankers and four dry cargo ships—were struck overnight while in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.

Additionally, during Operation “Crimean Circuit Breaker Off,” drones struck seven power distribution centers and electrical substations in Yalta, Morskoye, Privetnoye, Luchistoye, and other settlements in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

In addition, as part of Operation “PPOpad,” six elements of the Russian air defense system were reportedly destroyed in Yeysk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and Kamyshevatsky in the Krasnodar Krai. Among the targets struck were a “Tor-M2” anti-aircraft missile system, two “Nebo-SV” radar stations, as well as the “Nebo-U,” “Kasta 2E2,” and “Gamma S1M” systems.

According to the SBS, from July 1 to July 20, as part of separate operations in Crimea, 183 “shadow fleet” vessels, 103 power facilities, and 25 elements of Russian air defense were destroyed, including 12 anti-aircraft missile systems, 12 radar systems, and one electronic warfare system.

Units “Ptaki” 414, 413, 412, and 427, as well as 20 brigades and one center of the Unmanned Systems Forces, participated in the operations. The Security Service of Ukraine emphasized that strikes against the occupiers’ military, energy, and logistical capabilities in Crimea will continue.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Forces also stated that during the two weeks of the July “MoLoChKa” operation, in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine, they reduced the capacity of the Kerch ferry crossing by 75%. According to their data, three of the five ferries have been destroyed, while two others are no longer capable of independent movement and are being used as barges towed by tugboats.

Анна Бальчінос