Russia Says Ukraine Struck Tanker in Sea of Azov

By Reuters July 12, 2026 Ukrainian UAVs' hit, what the Ukrainian military say, was a Russian tanker during a strike at a location given as Sea of Azov in this screengrab taken from a handout video released July 9, 2026. Commander of Unmanned Aerial Systems Force/Handout via REUTERS A Ukrainian drone struck a tanker as it was entering the Azov-Black Sea Canal, Yury Slyusar, governor of Russia's Rostov region, said on Sunday. The fire caused by the attack has been brought under control and there was no risk of an oil spill because the vessel was empty, Slyusar said on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties. The Ukrainian military has recently attacked more than 40 Russian tankers in the Sea of Azov as part of what Ukraine describes as a campaign aimed at disrupting fuel supplies to Russian forces and isolating Moscow-occupied Crimea. Ukraine’s drone forces commander said 14 Russian vessels, including 10 tankers, were struck on Sunday. Four ferries were among the targets, Robert Brovdi said on Telegram, adding that a total of 90 Russian vessels have been hit in the past seven days. Ukraine has intensified attacks on logistics and energy infrastructure in Crimea in recent weeks, contributing to fuel shortages and prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency in the peninsula. Ukraine's military also said on Sunday it had hit an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region overnight. Kyiv has stepped up attacks on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure in recent months, seeking to reduce Moscow's revenue from oil product exports that the Kremlin uses to continue its war against Ukraine. Read more about: Ukraine war , Regions , Rostov , Drones Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more News Analysis Inside the Ukrainian Deep-Strike Campaign That Has Moscow on the Back Foot MT verified and analyzed four recent attacks deep in the Russian interior, including last week’s record strikes on Moscow. 5 Min read Strikes Kill Man in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, Woman in Russia’s Bryansk Authorities said a Russian strike killed a man in Dnipropetrovsk, while a Ukrainian drone attack killed a woman over the border in Bryansk. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Rostov Region Kill At Least 3 Among those killed in the strikes were two sailors aboard a cargo ship in the city of Rostov-on-Don, regional authorities said. 1 Min read Ukrainian Drones Injure 14 in Russia’s Republic of Chuvashia Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defense systems shot down or intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones overnight. 1 Min read