Ukraine said its forces struck eight small Russian fuel-oil tankers overnight in
the Sea of Azov as Kyiv moves to cut gasoline supplies to occupied Crimea.
Commander Robert Brovdi said “the struggle over fuel shipped via the Sea of Azov
to Crimea continues.” As the conflict enters its fifth year, Kyiv has stepped up
strikes on Russian refineries to disrupt fuel flows nationwide, and billions of
euros in EU funding are beginning to flow, boosting Ukrainian morale. Brovdi
said the targeted tankers are under international sanctions, are part of
Russia’s shadow fleet, are about 7,000 dwt each and were built between 2006 and
2012.
