The Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Unmanned Systems Command reported a series of strikes during the night of 20 July against Russian military, logistical and energy facilities. According to a statement by the UAF’s Unmanned Systems Forces, the attacks targeted seven vessels, seven energy hubs and substations in the temporarily occupied Crimea, and six elements of Russia’s air defence system.
Briefly about the main points
- The SBS reported that three tankers and four dry cargo ships had been hit.
- There are reports of strikes on seven power hubs and substations in Crimea.
- In Russia, according to the SBS, six elements of the air defence system have been hit.
- Among the stated targets are the «Tor-M2» air defence system and five radar systems.
- The SBS also reported a significant reduction in the capacity of the Kerch ferry crossing.
Seven vessels were attacked in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov
As part of an operation codenamed «MoLoChka», Ukrainian unmanned aerial forces reported that they had struck seven Russian vessels. These included three tankers and four dry cargo ships, which were in the waters of the Black and Azov Seas.
У message The SBS links these vessels to Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’. However, the names of the vessels, the nature of the damage they sustained and their current condition are not specified.
According to the Unmanned Systems Forces’ own estimates, between 1 and 20 July, as part of this operation, there were 183 vessels were hit: 119 in the Sea of Azov and 64 in the Black Sea.
Energy facilities have been attacked in Crimea
Another target of the night-time operation was energy infrastructure in the temporarily occupied territories. The SBS reported strikes on seven energy hubs and electrical substations.
The districts mentioned include Yalta, Morske, Pryvitne and Luchyste. The report does not provide a full list of the sites affected or the extent of the damage.
The Ukrainian side has dubbed this series of attacks «Operation Crimean Switch Off». According to the SBS, a total of 103 power facilities have been targeted as part of the operation since the beginning of July.
The SBS announced that it had destroyed six elements of the Russian air defence system
According to the Unmanned Systems Forces, some of the strikes were directed against Russian air defences in the areas of Yeysk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Kamyshevatsk.
Among the reported targets hit were a «Tor-M2» air defence missile system, two «Nebo-SV» radar stations, as well as «Nebo-U», «Kasta-2E2» and «Gamma-S1M» systems.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) states that, during the first 20 days of July, 25 elements of the Russian air defence system were destroyed as part of Operation «PPOpad»: 12 anti-aircraft missile systems, 12 radar systems and one electronic warfare system.
What is known about the Kerch ferry crossing
Unmanned Systems Forces They also stated that the capacity of the Kerch ferry crossing had been reduced by approximately 75%. According to their figures, three of the five ferries were destroyed, whilst two others are no longer able to move under their own power and are being towed.
These claims also require independent verification. The Kerch Strait crossing is of logistical importance for Russia’s connection with the occupied Crimea, so a systematic attack on transport, energy and air defence infrastructure could be aimed at simultaneously disrupting supplies and weakening the defences of military installations on the peninsula.
According to the SBS, units from 20 brigades and one centre of the Unmanned Systems Forces were involved in the operations. The Ukrainian military stated that strikes against the military, energy and logistical capabilities of Russian forces in the temporarily occupied Crimea will continue.
