Robert Brovdi reports that Ukrainian drone strikes have forced Russia to suspend traffic through the Sea of Azov.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, reported that Kyiv has struck 116 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov over the past nine days. These relentless drone attacks have forced Russia to suspend traffic through the waterway by shutting down the Don-Azov Channel and the Kerch Strait. The Sea of Azov is a vital economic artery for Russia, serving as a primary link for transporting oil, grain, and steel to the global market. Because Russia is the world’s largest grain exporter, the blockade threatens to disrupt the flow of wheat and sunflower oil, potentially costing the Kremlin billions of dollars. While Russia claims it can reroute exports through other Black Sea terminals, analysts suggest this will be difficult during peak seasons. The Ukrainian campaign aims to isolate the occupied Crimean Peninsula from Russia's logistics network. While Russia has accused Kyiv of "terrorism" for these strikes, Ukraine maintains that it is intentionally targeting military vessels and infrastructure to disrupt Russian seaborne shipping routes.