In southern Ukraine, soldiers have inscribed wry messages on sleek grey attack drones that will soon hunt Russian ships in the Black Sea, part of a widening campaign to isolate Crimea and weaken Moscow’s war effort. Units operating behind the front line on the steppe have hit more than 180 vessels and other sea‑borne targets around the peninsula in the past three weeks, opening a new front in the war. The attacks, initially in the Sea of Azov and now extending into the Black Sea, aim to raise the cost of occupying Crimea for Russia and shift the initiative toward Kyiv in the fifth year of full‑scale conflict. Battalion commander “Ray” of the Magyar’s Birds brigade, a key component of the effort, said they work day and night without time off. During a recent Reuters visit, his team launched drones every few minutes and claimed to have struck a cargo vessel, a floating crane in the Black Sea, and a power substation in southern Crimea, though Reuters could not verify these claims.
The campaign targets Crimea, a vital transit and military hub for Moscow’s forces. In recent months, drones have struck road and rail links connecting the peninsula to Russia, creating fuel shortages and emergencies. Power and gas facilities have also been repeatedly hit. More recently, attacks on oil tankers, dry cargo ships, and other vessels mark a broader effort to starve Russian forces of resources. Since the new phase began in July, drone forces under commander Robert “Magyar” Brovdi have reported hitting about six vessels per day, according to mocking, emoji‑laden reports. The assaults have choked shipping through the Sea of Azov, with the Kerch ferry crossing losing roughly 75 % of its capacity. Reuters could not verify this figure. Brovdi said the objective is to “ruin the myth” of Russian domination and assert total control over Ukraine’s territorial waters. The operation is named “Molochko,” a portmanteau meaning “Moscow will collapse because of Crimea.” Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute noted that strikes on overland logistics have increased shipping through the Sea of Azov, providing more sea‑borne targets.
Ukraine’s strikes are mirrored by intensified Russian attacks on southern Ukraine, particularly Odesa and other ports that handle grain exports. On Sunday, Russian forces killed 10 sailors after striking a Guinea‑Bissau‑flagged vessel carrying corn from Odesa, according to Ukrainian officials. In July alone, Russia hit Ukrainian ports 23 times and civilian vessels 17 times, disrupting logistics. Agricultural exports—grains, vegetable oils—remain Ukraine’s primary source of foreign exchange, with over 90 % shipped through Odesa‑region ports. Russia says its attacks target infrastructure storing military cargo and fuel.
The drones used by Ray’s battalion—Ukrainian‑made FP‑1 and FP‑2 models—are a staple of Kyiv’s expanding arsenal. They fly automatically to the operational zone, where remote pilots take over for the final strike. Teams launch the propeller‑driven drones with a small jet booster, then pack up quickly, moving to new locations within hours to avoid detection. Though they can be launched from over 100 km behind the front line, they remain prized targets for enemy drone units. “It’s a constant war—continuous measures and countermeasures,” said Ray, who commands the brigade’s ninth battalion, Kairos. Squadron commander Panama cited “tangible results” as motivation for his troops, noting that the campaign not only hampers Russian logistics but also bolsters Ukrainian morale. “Our tempo is high, but we must sustain it,” he added.
