Ukrainian forces attacked a railway station in Kerch in annexed Crimea and struck cargo ships and tankers in the Black Sea overnight on July 17, the commander of Ukraine's unmanned systems forces said. Colonel Robert Brovdi (call sign 'Madyar') reported that nine cargo ships, one tanker, one gas carrier and one tugboat were damaged during the night.
In Kerch, warehouses were burning after a drone attack, according to the monitoring channel 'Krymsky Veter' (Crimean Wind), which also reported that the 'Kerch' oil depot and trains on the tracks were likely hit. The 'Kerch' electrical substation is located near the railway station. Satellite images cited by the channel show a fire near the 'Koktebel' substation close to the namesake settlement on Crimea's southern coast. The information could not be independently verified.
Brovdi said that from July 6 to 17, a total of 159 vessels of Russia's 'shadow fleet' had been struck: 117 in the Sea of Azov and 42 in the Black Sea. He explained that the operation's goal is to turn each vessel into 'a barge drifting at sea, blind and deaf' without damaging the water area, so Ukrainian forces 'do not make any holes' in the hulls. The strikes primarily target tankers supplying fuel to Crimea.
Russia's Defense Ministry reported shooting down 243 Ukrainian drones over 11 regions, Krasnodar Krai, Stavropol Krai, annexed Crimea, and the waters of the Sea of Azov and Black Sea. The ministry did not specify how many drones were not shot down. There was no independent confirmation of these figures.
In Sevastopol, air raid alerts were issued twice from the evening of July 16 to the morning of July 17, said Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russia-appointed head of the city. He did not report the consequences of the attack, but electricity restrictions remained in place in the city in the morning.
Sources differ: Robert Brovdi reported 12 vessels attacked overnight, while other sources (Crimea.Realities, Krymsky Veter) cite the same number, specifying 12 in the Black Sea and a total of 159 vessels struck since July 6. Data on damage to the railway station, oil depot and substations in Kerch and Koktebel are based on monitoring channel reports and satellite images and have not been independently confirmed; Russia's Defense Ministry has not officially commented on these strikes.