Ukraine steps up drone attacks on Russian fuel tankers in Sea of Azov, commander says

According to CNBC, Ukraine has intensified drone attacks on Russian fuel tankers in the Sea of Azov in an effort to disrupt supplies to occupied Crimea as Russia faces gasoline shortages linked to strikes on oil refineries. Ukraine’s drone force commander Robert Brovdi, known as Magyar, said on Telegram that 14 Russian ships were hit on Thursday evening, bringing the total number of Russian ships struck by Ukrainian drones to 35 over the last 96 hours; the report could not be independently verified. The campaign is aimed at constraining supply and transport routes to and from Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014. Earlier this week, black smoke was seen rising from an oil refinery in Omsk after what appeared to be one of Ukraine’s deepest strikes into Russian territory so far, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said upgraded drone capabilities have put Siberia “within reach.” Russia has seen long lines at gas stations amid a worsening fuel crisis, and President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged the impact of drone strikes on fuel production. Separately, Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, said in a research note published Friday that the costs of the war are rising for the Kremlin and noted that Russia’s GDP growth stalled in the first quarter, citing official data.