Ukraine drones hit 90 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov over six days; Russia suspends civilian shipping through the Kerch Strait and Don-Azov Canal

Summary

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces struck 90 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov between July 6 and July 12, including oil tankers, ferries and tugboats used to support Russian military logistics and energy exports. Russia responded by temporarily suspending commercial navigation through the Kerch Strait and the Don-Azov Canal, cutting off a shipping corridor that carries roughly a quarter of Russia's wheat exports. Global wheat prices rose following the closure. In Taganrog Bay overnight on July 10-11, Russian authorities confirmed four vessels were struck, including a methanol tanker; one sailor was killed, per Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar. Rostov governor Yury Slyusar also confirmed on July 12 that a tanker was struck entering the Azov-Black Sea Canal.

The operation extends an earlier campaign in which Ukraine struck 35 shadow-fleet vessels in 96 hours through July 9. The cumulative toll of 90 ships represents a substantial portion of the tanker and ferry capacity Russia uses to move fuel, grain and personnel across the Azov, and the closure of both the Kerch Strait and the Don-Azov Canal sharpens the disruption to Russian logistics.

The split

Ukrainian sources (Kyiv Independent, United24 Media, Kyiv Post) led with the 90-vessel count and Russia's shutdown of two key waterways, framing the campaign as strategic economic warfare. Russian officials confirmed only four vessels struck in Taganrog Bay and one sailor killed, far below Ukrainian figures. Al Jazeera embedded the Azov campaign within a broader overnight exchange in which Russia simultaneously hit Ukrainian cities, framing it as mutual escalation rather than a Ukrainian strategic success. The gap between Ukraine's claimed 90 vessels and Russia's confirmed four remains unresolved.

By the numbers

• 90, Russian vessels Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces claims were struck in the Sea of Azov between July 6 and July 12.
• 73, confirmed drone hits Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces recorded in a single overnight operation on July 10-11.
• 4, vessels Russia officially confirmed struck in Taganrog Bay; 1 sailor killed.
• 2, waterways Russia halted: the Kerch Strait and the Don-Azov Canal.
• 25%, approximate share of Russia's wheat exports that move through the disrupted Azov corridor.

Why it matters

The Kerch Strait and the Don-Azov Canal are Russia's main maritime supply lines for Crimea and the occupied eastern Ukrainian coast. Suspending civilian navigation disrupts Russian commercial and agricultural exports at a time when Russia's domestic fuel and food logistics are already under pressure from the war. Ukraine is using long-range drones to achieve what blockades historically required a navy: denying an adversary the use of its own internal shipping lanes. The simultaneous spike in global wheat prices signals the campaign's reach beyond the war zone.

What to watch

• Whether Russia makes the Kerch Strait closure permanent or restores commercial traffic once the drone threat recedes
• The effect on Russian grain export revenues and domestic wheat prices if the disruption extends beyond days
• Whether Ukraine expands the campaign further into the Black Sea shipping lanes
• Any Russian military response aimed at Ukraine's drone launch and logistics infrastructure