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ConflictUkraine claims hits on 13 more Russian ships, forcing Moscow to redeploy air defense from front
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Ukraine's drone troops claim to have struck 13 additional Russian ships in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, bringing the total to 172 vessels targeted. The head of Ukraine's drone forces, Robert Browdi, stated that the weeks-long 'fleet hunt' is forcing Moscow to partially withdraw its Rubikon drone units and deploy air defense assets from the front line to protect shipping. Browdi declared 'Moscow will go under' and said operations would continue through July and early August. The claims could not be independently verified. Russia's Defense Ministry separately reported shelling port infrastructure and two cargo ships in Ukraine's Odessa region, also unverified. The article notes that ground troop movements have been minimal for months due to mutual drone surveillance.
Source report
Ukraine has reported striking multiple Russian vessels in the Black Sea, describing a weeks-long "fleet hunt" that it says is now forcing Moscow to withdraw and redeploy units from the front line.
Key Claims by Ukraine
According to Robert Browdi, head of Ukraine's drone troops, Ukrainian drone units have hit 13 additional Russian ships, bringing the total number of vessels targeted in the Black Sea and the adjacent Sea of Azov to 172.
In a statement on social media, Browdi said that on the night leading into Saturday, the following were hit:
- Eight freighters
- One tanker
- One gas carrier
- One tugboat
- Two floating cranes
The information could not be independently verified.
Strategic Impact
Ukraine's counterattacks aim to disrupt Russia's military logistics in its war of aggression. Browdi stated that the prolonged "fleet hunt" is now causing Moscow to partially withdraw and relocate its drone units—specifically the so-called Rubikon troops—in order to better protect shipping traffic. This, he argued, weakens the enemy at the front.
"In addition to the 'Rubikon' units, which are being partially withdrawn from the front line, the forces and assets of the entire 51st Air Defense Division as well as an anti-aircraft regiment of the remnants of the Black Sea Fleet are also being deployed," Browdi said.
He announced that operations against Russian ships would continue through the remaining days of July and the first half of August.
"Moscow will go under," Browdi said, adding that Crimea—the Black Sea peninsula heavily affected by Ukrainian strikes and annexed by Russia in 2014—would be rebuilt later.
No Independent Confirmation
There was no confirmation from Moscow or independent sources regarding an alleged redeployment of Russian drone units. It also remained unclear what such a step would mean for the situation at the front, where ground troop movements have been minimal for months due to mutual drone surveillance.
Russian Claims
The Russian Defense Ministry reported over the weekend that its forces had shelled and hit port infrastructure and two cargo ships used for transporting weapons in the southern Ukrainian Black Sea region of Odessa. These claims could not be independently verified.
Both warring parties have released unverified videos of their operations.
dpa/ceb
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
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