Ukraine's naval drones hit 12 shadow-fleet ships in one night
Operation MoLoChKa has struck 159 Russian vessels since July 6, Moscow is putting soldiers on tanker decks, and European wheat just hit a 17-month high.
Operation MoLoChKa has struck 159 Russian vessels since July 6, Moscow is putting soldiers on tanker decks, and European wheat just hit a 17-month high.
Ukrainian naval drones hit 12 vessels of Russia's shadow fleet in the Black Sea overnight on July 17, the Kyiv Independent reported. Nine dry cargo ships, one oil tanker, one gas carrier and one tugboat took damage, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said on Telegram.
The night's tally extends Operation MoLoChKa, underway since July 6, to 159 vessels struck: 117 in the Sea of Azov and 42 in the Black Sea, Ukrainska Pravda reported. The tempo is nightly. Drone crews disabled 11 ships on July 16, Kyiv Post reported, and 20 the evening before, per NV. Brovdi describes the goal as "an incurable paralysis of logistics" for oil, fuel and cargo moving in circumvention of sanctions. Even the codename carries messaging. MoLoChKa, milk, forms an acronym for "Moscow will fall through Crimea," The Telegraph noted.
The boats were not the only weapons out that night. Drones set fires around the railway station in Kerch, eastern Crimea, where warehouses and rail infrastructure burned and NASA's FIRMS satellites registered the blazes, Kyiv Post reported, citing the monitoring channel Krymskiy Veter. Unconfirmed reports pointed to the Kerch oil depot as well.
Moscow's countermeasures trace the pressure. The Atesh partisan network, citing a source inside Black Sea Fleet headquarters, claims Russia is posting troops and air-defense teams aboard commercial tankers and gas carriers, per Kyiv Post. AIS tracking suggests jammers now operate around the Kerch Strait, though the attacking craft navigate over Starlink, The Telegraph reported. Russia has already paused shipping through the Don-Azov channel and the Kerch Strait once this month, NV reported, citing Reuters.
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Subscribe Free →Wheat traders moved early. Benchmark European milling wheat rose 7 percent on Wednesday to 231.75 euros a metric ton on Euronext, a price last seen in February 2025, and Chicago futures added 5 percent, Reuters reported. Traders now expect some grain demand to shift toward European Union supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ukraine strike in the Black Sea on July 17?
Twelve vessels of Russia's shadow fleet: nine dry cargo ships, one oil tanker, one gas carrier and one tugboat, according to Unmanned Systems Forces commander Robert Brovdi, cited by the Kyiv Independent.
What is Operation MoLoChKa?
A Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces campaign against Russia's shadow fleet in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, underway since July 6. Ukrainska Pravda reports 159 vessels struck so far, 117 in the Azov and 42 in the Black Sea. The Telegraph notes the name, "milk" in Russian, is an acronym for "Moscow will fall through Crimea."
What is Russia's shadow fleet?
Aging, often foreign-flagged tankers and cargo ships Moscow uses to move oil and goods around international sanctions. Brovdi says the campaign seeks "an incurable paralysis of logistics" for that traffic, per Ukrainska Pravda.
How is Russia protecting the ships?
The Atesh partisan network claims Moscow is placing troops and air-defense teams aboard tankers and gas carriers, per Kyiv Post. The Telegraph reports AIS tracking suggests jammers around the Kerch Strait, though Ukraine's craft navigate via Starlink. Russia also temporarily suspended shipping through the Don-Azov channel and Kerch Strait, NV reported, citing Reuters.
Why did wheat prices jump?
Escalating attacks on Black Sea shipping raised concerns over grain export routes, Reuters reported. September milling wheat on Euronext closed 7 percent higher at 231.75 euros a ton, its highest since February 2025, and Chicago wheat futures rose 5 percent.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.