Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said on August 8 that Ukrainian drones had "effectively engaged" 218 vessels in the Black and Azov seas since July 6. According to him, 134 of the vessels were in the Azov Sea and 84 in the Black Sea. There is no independent confirmation of the strikes.
Brovdi claimed that between August 1 and 8 alone, 12 vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" were attacked. Along with the statement, he published video of one attack, showing a Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile and gun system firing at a Ukrainian drone. Brovdi said three guided missiles from the system failed to shoot down the drone, which then struck a tanker near Gelendzhik.
Brovdi also claimed that vessel traffic through the Kerch Strait has been blocked since July 10, a period of 30 days. The figures he cites have changed repeatedly: on July 13 he reported 105 vessels struck, and on July 17, 159. These data are based on Ukrainian statements and have not been independently verified.
Meanwhile, Alexei Bogodistov, head of Gelendzhik, said the city's beaches were closed due to the drone threat. This was the first such closure after a drone fell on a beach, killing seven people.
Russian military officials have not commented on the tanker attack. Crimea.Realities notes that it cannot independently verify the information under wartime conditions.