Russia is seeking ways to reroute vessels from the Sea of Azov following over 100 attacks on Russian ships — including oil tankers and cargo vessels — by Ukrainian forces within less than two weeks, further isolating Crimea under Moscow’s control.
Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces have targeted at least 105 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov in the past eight days, intensifying efforts to cut off Moscow-held Crimea.
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According to Major Robert “Magyar” Brovdi, Commander of the Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) and the Ukrainian General Staff, 10 vessels were hit in a single nocturnal operation, including ferries and tankers used by Russia to transport oil and petroleum products, helping Moscow evade sanctions.
«Every night, the transhipment facilities on the peninsula face strikes; passage through the strait is halted, and unloading of cargo is minimized,» Brovdi noted in a Monday Telegram post, referencing the Kerch Strait and its logistics network serving Moscow-controlled Crimea.
Analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), based in the US, stated that Ukraine escalated strikes against ships in the Sea of Azov last Monday to prevent Russian adaptation to Ukrainian attacks on land-based supply lines between Russia and occupied Crimea, which have triggered significant gasoline shortages.
“The recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian maritime gasoline shipments mark a new level in efforts to isolate occupied Crimea from Russia’s logistics network and to disrupt Russia’s maritime shipping routes, notably for petroleum and grain,” the ISW explained.
The Sea of Azov lies between Russia and Ukraine’s southern coast, the latter occupied by Moscow’s forces since 2022, and the Russian-annexed Crimea.
This area serves as a critical export corridor for Russian supplies to Crimea and for moving agricultural products, including grain taken from occupied Ukrainian territories.
Supply to Crimea cut off
Ukraine’s effective long- and medium-range strike operations have sparked concern and frustration among Kremlin-aligned media outlets.
Milbloggers loyal to Moscow are now challenging Russia’s «deficient air defense capabilities» and the Kremlin’s «faulty decisions,» which have exposed Russian and occupied Ukrainian assets to Ukrainian attacks.
A leading Russian milblogger on Sunday attributed the crisis caused by Ukrainian strikes in western and other Russian regions to «blatant negligence» by Moscow officials, stressing that these problems will not be resolved quickly by the Kremlin.
Other commentators report that Russia is facing difficulties defending its tankers in the Sea of Azov against Ukrainian drones, primarily due to an absence of a cohesive shipping defense system.
The ISW assessed Kyiv’s strategy in the Sea of Azov by stating, “Russia’s failure to adapt its air defense systems against the rapidly evolving drone warfare that has defined recent years of the Ukraine conflict contradicts the offense-defense dynamics present in both sides’ strike operations.”
Moscow plans to divert ships from Azov
On Tuesday, Russia announced it is exploring «alternative shipping routes» and may restrict navigation in the Sea of Azov due to the escalating Ukrainian strikes.
In a statement, Russia’s agriculture ministry confirmed, “Alternative shipping channels are being developed in cooperation with relevant authorities and the business sector.”
The ministry assured that exports will continue without interruption.
“The situation in the Sea of Azov will not impact food supply in the domestic market or the country’s export capacity,” the ministry added.
The Russian transport ministry stated it is «implementing all necessary steps to maintain smooth freight logistics» amid increasing attacks.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov affirmed that the Kremlin is taking measures to halt these attacks.