(SEA OF AZOV) – Ukraine struck 15 more Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight, bringing the total number of ships hit in eight days to 104, as Operation MoLoChKa continues to devastate Russian maritime logistics.
The latest tally includes seven shadow fleet tankers, five dry cargo vessels, one ferry, and two tugboats, according to footage released by the Magura unit on 13 July. One ferry struck had been previously hit at Kerch Port, making it a repeat target. The initial strike appeared to cause limited damage, with a second attack hoped to have been more successful.
One of the tugboats was recorded being hit while attempting to rescue an already disabled tanker, meaning the rescuing vessel will now itself require salvage. The operation has also claimed a pair of Russian Mangust class patrol boats in the Black Sea south of the Kerch Bridge, though these were attributed to a different Ukrainian unit and are not included in the Magura compilation.
Traffic through the Kerch Strait has ground to a near halt, with satellite imagery and marine traffic data showing most surviving tankers fleeing to ports such as Rostov on Don. Unloading at Russian ports has reportedly been reduced to a minimum. A photo shared online showed a convoy of three Russian tankers burning heavily, illustrating the scale of the damage inflicted.
Beyond the maritime strikes, the Magura unit reports destroying an S-400 launcher, a Tor air defence system, and two radars overnight, further degrading Russia’s ability to protect its remaining vessels. Repair backlogs are expected to mount as damaged ships compete for limited dry dock and port facility space.
Ukraine has formally designated the operation “MoLoChKa,” translated as “dairy.”
The footage was released by the Magura unit of Ukraine’s defence forces, documenting strikes across the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait area.
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