Mutual attacks in the Black Sea region claim dead and injured on both sides

Ukrainian drone attacks on the Moscow region

The Ukrainian side reported its own attacks on Russian territory. In a Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, three people were previously killed, according to Russian reports. In addition, five people were injured when a drone crashed in a settlement in the town of Istra, the governor of the region, Andrey Vorobyov, announced on Monday.

The commander of the Ukrainian drone forces, Robert Browdi, wrote on Telegram that a further 15 ships had been hit overnight in the Sea of Azov. These involved seven tankers, five freighters, a ferry, and two tugboats. Over the past eight days, 105 Russian ships had been damaged, Browdi stated.

Ships in the Sea of Azov and on the Black Sea

In addition, Ukraine had attacked two Russian patrol boats in the Black Sea as well as car ferries in Kerch in the east of the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula and at the port of Kavkaz. Russia hopes to use the tanker fleet to deliver missing fuel to the Crimean Peninsula.

One further death was reported from the western Russian region of Belgorod. The Russian governor of Stavropol confirmed an attack on an industrial facility in the region. However, he provided no information on the exact target of the attack.

The Ukrainian domestic intelligence agency SBU reported renewed attacks on facilities of the Russian oil infrastructure. During the night, an oil depot in the southern Russian Caucasus region of Stavropol as well as three storage tanks at an oil loading point at the port of Kavkaz in the southern Black Sea region of Krasnodar were hit, the SBU announced.

Attacks on the Russian oil infrastructure

The intensified Ukrainian attacks on the Russian oil industry have led to massive fuel shortages in Russia. Browdi stated that the targets at sea served to cut off fuel supplies to Crimea.

In parallel, the Russian domestic intelligence agency FSB announced that it had foiled a series of planned Ukrainian drone attacks on two air force bases deep inside Russia. According to the state news agency Tass, citing an FSB statement, Ukrainian intelligence services had allegedly planned attacks on the bases of Shagol in the Urals and Ukrainka in the Far East.

Foiled drone operations in the Russian rear

According to this, Ukraine had used balloons and drones to transport containers with additional drones into the Russian border region of Bryansk. From there, they were to be brought to the two target locations. The alleged perpetrators had been arrested, the FSB announced.

A year ago, Ukraine had attacked Russian air force bases deep inside the country, destroying around ten Russian military aircraft according to US figures. Among the targets at that time was also the base of Ukrainka.

Expansion of mutual strikes

The attacks on the Black Sea region point to an expansion of the mutual strikes that extends beyond the immediate combat zone. While Ukraine is increasingly targeting Russian logistics and energy infrastructure, Russia is responding with attacks on Ukrainian port cities and civilian ships under foreign flags.

The reports of civilian casualties and injuries on both sides illustrate the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing mutual attacks. Observers interpret the parallel operations as a sign that both sides are deploying their military capacities far into the opponent's rear.

This news was broadcast on July 13, 2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program. The information on casualties and damage is based primarily on official statements from Ukrainian and Russian authorities, which in the ongoing conflict each represent their own positions and can only be verified to a limited extent by independent sources.

The situation in the Black Sea region remains unstable in view of the continued attacks on shipping, energy facilities, and ports on both sides. Further casualties among civilians and foreign crews are considered likely by observers as long as there is no effective protection of civilian shipping and port cities.