Operation “Molochka”: Ukrainian Naval Drones Choke Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Since July 6, Ukrainian naval drones have targeted nearly 190 vessels in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, forcing Moscow to pull air defense units from the front lines.

185 Hit Vessels Since the Beginning of the Month

According to Browdi, over the past 24 hours, SBS drones attacked 1,945 Russian targets of various types, while the operation targeting sanction-evading tankers has been ongoing uninterrupted since July 6. Based on the commander’s previous summaries described by Gazeta.pl, between July 6 and 20 alone, Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels hit 172 shadow fleet ships—118 in the Sea of Azov and 54 in the Black Sea. Adding the latest 13 hits from the past day, the total toll since the start of the operation reaches nearly 190 units.

Recently hit targets include eight Russian general cargo ships, a tanker, a gas tanker, a tugboat, and two floating cranes. Browdi emphasizes that Ukrainians intentionally avoid piercing hulls, instead aiming to immobilize the vessels and turn them into useless barges drifting at sea to prevent oil spills and contamination of the waters.

Russia Pulls Air Defense From the Front Lines

According to Browdi, the scale of losses is forcing the Russian command to shift resources from the front line to protect the fleet. The Ukrainian commander claims the Russians have removed up to 200 electronic warfare teams operating the “Rubikon” system from the front line, and additionally deployed forces from the 51st Anti-Aircraft Defense Division and an anti-aircraft regiment of the Black Sea Fleet remnants to protect the ships.

The operation is commanded by Robert Browdi, call sign “Magyar.” Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, he was an entrepreneur, and after 2022, he took charge of the renowned drone unit “Magyar’s Birds.” For his service, he received the title of Hero of Ukraine, and last year President Volodymyr Zelensky entrusted him with the command of the entire Unmanned Systems Forces.

The Largest Naval Operation in Decades

As the Financial Times pointed out, the Ukrainian army’s campaign targeting shadow fleet ships in the Sea of Azov has become one of the largest and most intensive naval operations of the past half-century. Ukrainian drones strike bridgehouses or oil pumping pipelines with high precision, immobilizing ships without sinking them.

The so-called shadow fleet is a network of mostly aging tankers used by Russia to transport crude oil and petroleum products while bypassing international sanctions. According to various estimates, it currently numbers from about 600 to as many as 1,600 vessels worldwide, mostly small and medium tankers sailing under foreign flags, often without valid insurance.