In recent weeks, Ukraine has reportedly hit around 100 tankers carrying fossil fuels for Russia. Brovdi, the head of Ukraine's USF drone force, has said they are striking in the Sea of Azov every 112 minutes.
And according to the latest information, the USF is now expanding this intense offensive to the Black Sea.
The Sea of Azov is an arm of the Black Sea, which in turn opens out into the world's oceans. But the only way for Russian ships to get out is through the Kerch Strait, between Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea.
The attacks therefore serve a dual purpose for Ukraine. On the one hand, they hinder Russia's ability to export oil and gas, which hits both the economy and Russian public opinion hard. On the other hand, they spread fear in and around Crimea, which has been Russian President Vladimir Putin's crown jewel among areas conquered during the war.
Previous attacks on land routes to Crimea have made them so dangerous that many Russians have canceled plans to vacation there this summer. And now the sea supply routes are also being affected.
But Russia is responding in kind. In recent days, it has repeatedly attacked the deep-sea ports in the Odesa area, which are important for Ukraine's foreign trade. On Wednesday morning, Ukraine confirmed several civilian casualties and injuries in the attacks.
