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Azov corridor choked
Ukrainian drone strikes forced Russia to stop navigation in the Sea of Azov, after 90 vessels were reported hit in less than a week, according to Adnkronos citing the Guardian and quoting Robert Brovdi.
“Kiev attacca con droni, Mosca costretta a stop navigazione in Mar d'Azov”
Adnkronos said Brovdi reported that his units struck during the night 10 petroliere and four traghetti, as well as an important raffineria di petrolio nella città di Syzran, and that there were also attacks against sottostazioni elettriche in Crimea.
The Guardian reported that Russia was forced to suspend shipping in the Sea of Azov after 90 vessels were targeted by Ukrainian drones in less than a week, and said Brovdi stated his units hit 10 tankers and four ferries overnight.
In parallel, Russia suspended shipping through the Don-Azov canal on Friday, with the canal connecting with a Russian river network and the Caspian Sea, and the export route via Kerch and the Bosphorus being described as effectively shut down.
The Kyiv Independent said Ukraine struck 15 more Russian vessels overnight on July 13, bringing the total number of vessels hit over the past eight days to 105, according to Unmanned Systems Forces Commander Robert Brovdi.
Brovdi’s claims, Zelensky’s push
Robert Brovdi, described as the head of Ukraine’s drone forces, wrote that “The technological humiliation of the [Russian] empire continues. It will fall because of Crimea,” and said Moscow’s shadow fleet was “noticeably shrinking” and could no longer use the Kerch strait, according to the Guardian.
In the same reporting, Brovdi said the campaign had hit 10 tankers and four ferries overnight and also a major oil refinery in the city of Syzran, while adding that there were several strikes on electricity substations in occupied Crimea.
Adnkronos also reported Zelensky’s statement on X that he and Donald Trump had reached “un accordo importante sulle licenze per produrre sistemi Patriot,” with Zelensky saying his teams were working to implement the agreement.
Adnkronos quoted Zelensky arguing that “Più diversificata è la nostra difesa, più sarà difficile per i nostri nemici minare la sicurezza in Europa,” and said he called for accelerating production and development of systems including Patriot, Samp/T, Iris-T, Nasams and the European project Frejya.
The Kyiv Independent added that Brovdi said Ukrainian forces struck 11 energy infrastructure facilities across occupied Crimea and other Russian-occupied territories between July 12 and July 13, including nine electrical substations and the Kuban-Crimea electricity bridge transfer point.
Trade, fuel, and sanctions
Baird Maritime reported that Ukraine’s top grain exporter Kernel Holding halted operations at Chornomorsk port due to Russian missile and drone attacks between Friday and Sunday, describing them as “some of the largest wartime strikes” and saying the timing for restoring operations was uncertain.
“Ukraine's top grain exporter Kernel Holding said on Monday it had halted operations at Chornomorsk port due to a series of Russian attacks as Moscow intensifies pressure on key Ukrainian trade routes”
Baird Maritime said the attacks damaged grain, sunflower oil and meal storage and transshipment infrastructure, and it reported that Russia’s defence ministry said its forces hit port infrastructure at Chornomorsk used for unloading military cargo, fuel storage tanks and an ammunition warehouse.
The Kyiv Independent said Brovdi wrote that “the peninsula's transshipment infrastructure is being stung every night, traffic through the strait has stopped, and cargo unloading has been reduced to a minimum,” referring to the Kerch Strait and logistics infrastructure serving occupied Crimea.
Adnkronos reported that Zelensky said “tutti nel mondo vedono che l'Ucraina ha bisogno di più difesa aerea, di più protezione per la vita delle persone,” and that he argued Russia’s authorities were “impazzite” and “completamente irrazionali” in refusing to end the war.
In the same Adnkronos account, Zelensky wrote that “La pressione sulla Russia deve funzionare,” as the article tied the maritime disruption in the Sea of Azov to the broader contest over defense systems and sanctions.
