Ukraine has conducted an "unprecedented" series of drone attacks on Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov, hitting over 110 vessels in nine days. This campaign, initiated on July 6, aims to disrupt fuel and logistics supply chains supporting Russia's military in southern Ukraine and Crimea.

The scale of these attacks surpasses even the Iran-Iraq tanker wars of the 1980s, according to Tomas Alexa, a senior analyst at maritime security agency Ambrey. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces reported hitting 11 more Russian ships overnight, including tankers and cargo ships, totaling 116 vessels. These strikes target accommodation blocks or pipework, aiming to complicate oil exports, limit maritime transport, and reduce Russia's ability to supply its forces.

Russia's agricultural ministry stated grain exports would be redirected from the Sea of Azov, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accusing Ukraine of "terrorism." Ukraine also destroyed the Russian FSB border patrol ship Izumrud near Novorossiysk, a symbolic act as the ship was involved in a 2018 attack on Ukrainian vessels. In retaliation, Russia attacked four vessels in Ukrainian ports, resulting in crew casualties.