Kyiv claims drone attacks on 11 Russian tankers in Sea of Azov
Ukrainian drones hit 11 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov overnight, Kyiv's drone forces commander said on Tuesday.
In a statement on Telegram, Robert Brovdi said the targets included five tankers, five dry cargo vessels and a tugboat, bringing the total number of vessels struck in the past nine days to 116.
The Sea of Azov is nestled between Russia, the southern stretch of Ukraine that has been occupied by Moscow's army and Russia-annexed Crimea.
The route, which is used by a quarter of Russia's grain exports, has faced restrictions following continued Ukrainian attacks on tankers and other commercial vessels.
Read more Ukraine strikes halt shipping on key wheat route as Russian fuel crisis deepens
Russia's agriculture ministry on Tuesday insisted that exports will carry on despite increased Ukrainian attacks.
"The situation in the Azov Sea will not affect the domestic market's food supply or our country's export capabilities," the ministry said.
It added Russia was taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of vessels in the Sea of Azov and was exploring alternative routes for freight traffic.
As Russia faces a domestic fuel crisis, the commander of Ukraine's drone forces said the aim of the attacks was to damage Russia's "shadow fleet" and to limit Russia's petrol supplies to Moscow-controlled Crimea.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)