The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced on 10/7 that it conducted an overnight strike operation targeting "Russian military logistics systems". The operation hit 18 targets: 13 oil tankers, three cargo ships, one ferry, and one auxiliary vessel. It stated these vessels were used by Moscow to transport fuel, military cargo, and supplies for the war.

Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), stated on the same day that his units struck 13 Russian ships near the Crimea peninsula overnight. He added that all targeted oil tankers belonged to Moscow's "dark fleet".

Video released by the USF shows unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) striking targets believed to be Russian ships, causing explosions and fires.

Ukrainian UAVs strike targets believed to be Russian ships in a video posted on 10/7. *Video: USF*

The term "dark fleet" is often used by the US and European countries to describe a network of oil tankers allegedly helping Russia circumvent sanctions. The USF claimed to have hit 48 Russian ships with UAVs over the past five days.

The General Staff also reported attacks on several fuel facilities on Russian territory, including the Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, where explosions occurred.

The Ilsky plant is considered one of the largest oil processing facilities in southern Russia, with an annual capacity of up to 6,6 million tons. Ukrainian officials stated the plant produces gasoline, diesel fuel, and petroleum products for military logistics.

Kyiv also reported attacking two oil depots in Rostov province and the Novatek Ust-Luga gas condensate processing complex in Leningrad province. This complex is considered one of Russia's largest facilities for processing gas condensate into refined petroleum products. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces noted that this facility serves the Russian armed forces and has an annual processing capacity of about 7 million tons.

Brovdi added that Ukrainian UAVs also struck 5 transformer substations on the Crimea peninsula, though he did not specify the damage.

Russian officials have not yet commented on these reports.

Location of the Crimea peninsula. *Graphic: BBC*

According to BBC, Ukraine's recent attacks on vessels near Crimea appear to mark a new phase in a "logistics blockade" campaign. This campaign aims to cut off supplies to the peninsula. Kyiv previously targeted land supply routes to Crimea and is now attacking sea routes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin estimated in June that Crimea requires 70.000 tons of fuel per month. He pledged to ensure supplies to the peninsula by increasing both land and sea transport.

*By Pham Giang (According to Kyiv Post, Ukrainska Pravda, BBC)*