Ukraine causes 'sheer destruction' as it destroys 21 Russian vessels in 72 hours

Ukraine continued its attacks on Russian tankers overnight on Tuesday, delivering a powerful demonstration to NATO leaders on combating Russia by targeting another 9 from President Vladimir Putin’s covert shadow fleet. This brings the total number of vessels destroyed by Kyiv’s forces to 21 in merely 72 hours.

Among them were 19 sanctions-evading tankers, functioning under Putin’s direct authorization to transport oil to the annexed Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, where his grip is weakening amid a Ukrainian blockade choking the region.

A bulk carrier and a ferry running between Crimea and Russia were also hit during the assault. The vessels were set on fire in the Sea of Azov in a devastating strike against Putin, as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky attends a NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara.

“It’s just sheer destruction,” remarked war analyst Anatoliy Shariy, who has 1.1 million followers.

The Kremlin dictator is quickly losing his hold over both the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov thanks to Ukraine’s drone capabilities. The attacks that have damaged or destroyed the oil tankers will further cripple Crimea in a catastrophe for Putin, whose war continues to deteriorate.

The previous day, a convoy of eight tankers came under attack in the Sea of Azov. Seven were identified as the Venera-3, Sanar-1, Sanar-17, Klymena, Teti, Aleksey Savrasov, and Penelope. Previously, Ukraine struck the Captain Barmin and Sanar-4 in the Sea of Azov on Monday.

The identities of the tankers announced today were not immediately disclosed. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Birds of Magyar also reported striking 53 military objectives, including six additional power stations in Crimea, as the region faces severe shortages of fuel, electricity, and water.

The heavy bombardment occurred as Putin rejected a Zelensky proposal to cease fighting and pursue peace negotiations.

The significant strikes were confirmed by Robert ‘Magyar’ Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. He stated the attacks against Putin’s oil fleet have achieved “industrial-scale” proportions. “We will stand firm. Moscow will fall. We will feed and rebuild Crimea,” he pledged.

On Wednesday morning, Zelensky also confirmed long-range attacks on the Saratov region, Tatarstan, and Bashkortostan, roughly 800, 1,400, and 1,500 kilometers from the front line.

“They also reached the Voronezh region – about 300 kilometers from our border,” he added.

In a post on X, he wrote, “The Saratov oil refinery was hit. Warriors of the Special Operations Forces struck an oil refinery in Tatarstan. Russians must feel that their state is waging this war. I thank everyone who helps defend Ukraine!”