All articles tagged with #kerch strait
Ukraine says it sunk the Russian border guard patrol ship Izumrud near Novorossiysk with a Sargan-3000 sea drone; the vessel took part in the 2018 Kerch Strait attack and reportedly left crew casualties. Kyiv framed the strike as revenge amid a broader campaign that includes attacks on Russian oil infrastructure and a UN update showing rising civilian casualties in June 2026.
Russia temporarily halted shipping on the Don-Azov Channel and closed the Kerch Strait after Ukrainian tanker strikes, with no lift date announced; the move affects the Sea of Azov corridor that handles a significant portion of Russia’s wheat exports and highlights ongoing disruption to Black Sea grain trade amid continuing attacks on shipping and fuel facilities.
Russia suspended commercial shipping through the Kerch Strait and Don–Azov Canal after a large Ukrainian drone campaign hit Moscow’s maritime logistics, targeting oil tankers linked to the sanctioned shadow fleet; four vessels were struck in the Gulf of Taganrog on July 11, including a methanol tanker, with officials saying damage was minor and no chemical leaks occurred; the suspension disrupted the Azov Sea’s role in Russia’s grain exports, prompting wheat futures higher, and there is no timeline for when transit will resume.
Ukraine claims that Russia is sinking its own ferries in the Kerch Strait to create a protective barrier for the Kerch Bridge against Ukrainian sea-drone attacks. The plan reportedly involves sinking at least six ferries and installing boom barriers between them. However, experts argue that this tactic may not be effective against small and agile sea drones. Russia has been increasing its defenses in response to Ukrainian sea-drone attacks, which have caused damage to large warships.
Beaches in Ukraine's Odesa have reopened for swimming for the first time since the Russian invasion began in February 2022, although bathing during air raid alerts remains banned. The city has faced relentless waves of Russian attacks, leading to the closure of popular holiday resorts. In the Kerch Strait, two Ukrainian missiles were shot down over the bridge connecting Russia-annexed Crimea to the mainland. Increased shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv region resulted in the death of a woman, and a police officer was killed in a bomb strike in the Zaporizhzhia region. Russian forces destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, and advanced Kinzhal missiles were launched at Ukrainian pilots who will soon train on US-made F-16 fighter jets. The Russian tanker damaged by a drone has been towed for repairs.
A Russian chemical tanker was reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones in the Kerch Strait, causing damage to the vessel. The attack briefly halted traffic on the strategic Kerch Bridge, which connects Russian-occupied Crimea to the mainland. No fuel spillage was reported, and Ukraine has not officially commented on the incident. The tanker, identified as the SIG, is under US sanctions for supplying jet fuel to Russian forces in Syria. This attack comes a day after Ukraine claimed to have carried out a seaborne drone strike on a Russian warship. The number of attacks in the Black Sea has increased since Russia exited a deal allowing Ukrainian grain exports via the shipping hub.
Blasts were reported near the bridge connecting Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland, with Russian-appointed officials attributing the explosions to a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian tanker. The tanker was damaged and unable to operate independently, prompting the dispatch of tugboats for assistance. Additionally, a Russian warship was seriously damaged in a Ukrainian naval drone attack on Russia's navy base at Novorossiysk. While Russia-installed officials in Crimea denied any connection to the bridge, which has previously been targeted, Ukrainian news reports and pro-Russian officials claimed responsibility for the attacks. Ukraine has not officially commented on the incident.