On March 14, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, reported that it successfully targeted two Russian vessels transporting weapons and military equipment through the Kerch Strait.
The agency described both ships as “key parts” of Russia’s Kerch ferry service, which supplies ammunition and equipment to forces operating in occupied Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
According to HUR, the railway ferry “Slavianin” was rendered inoperable, while the vessel “Avangard” sustained damage.
The Kerch Strait, a 35-kilometre (21-mile) waterway connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, is a crucial logistical corridor for Moscow, linking the Kerch Peninsula in Russian-occupied Crimea to Russia’s Taman Peninsula.
In a coordinated strike, Ukrainian intelligence units also targeted infrastructure at Port Kavkaz in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai.
HUR stated that the port, located on the Chushka Spit, is one of Russia’s largest passenger and ferry facilities and has been used to support military operations against Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed damage to the port infrastructure as part of this operation.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its air defences intercepted and destroyed 87 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions. The Kyiv Independent has not independently verified this report.
The operation highlights Ukraine’s increasing emphasis on targeting Russian logistical networks and supply chains, underscoring the strategic importance of the Kerch Strait in sustaining Moscow’s military operations.
Analysts suggest that strikes on ferries and port facilities could disrupt Russian troop movements and ammunition deliveries, thereby intensifying operational pressure on Russian forces in the region.
