Ukraine's relentless drone campaign in the Sea of Azov has dealt a significant blow to Russia's shadow fleet, with 28 Russian vessels, including 21 tankers, four tugs, two cargo ships, and one special-purpose vessel, being struck by Ukrainian drones on July 11th. This is part of a broader effort to isolate Crimea and disrupt Russia's energy infrastructure, with Ukrainian forces also targeting refineries, oil depots, and ports. The success of these attacks has forced Russia to rely on imports to meet its fuel demands, with supplies from Belarus and India reaching record levels. The Kremlin is concerned about the impact on fuel shortages, with Russian President Vladimir Putin addressing the issue publicly. Ukraine's asymmetric strategy, utilizing advanced drones and satellite data links, has proven effective in offsetting Russia's advantages on the battlefield. This campaign, along with other successful attacks on the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has forced the evacuation of Russian naval assets from occupied Crimea. The impact of these attacks extends beyond the battlefield, with Russian nationalist bloggers expressing disgust at the reach of Ukrainian drones into Siberia. As Ukraine continues to struggle with Russian ballistic missile barrages, its success in targeting Russia's energy infrastructure and isolating Crimea has likely influenced President Donald Trump's stance on the conflict, with a recent warm bilateral meeting and promises of Patriot air defense system licenses.
