Satellite images have recorded new oil pollution in the Sea of Azov. Two oil slicks appeared near the Akhtarsk limans on July 26, the Transparent World project noted. The first slick is located next to a vessel and covers an area of about 4.7 km². The second, measuring nearly 2 km², lies farther south and may be an older spill, analysts say. According to the Ukrainian side, Russia uses the Akhtarsk limans for the temporary anchorage of vessels, including those used to circumvent sanctions.

In recent weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been actively “hunting” Russia’s shadow fleet and, from July 6 to 22, had already struck 126 vessels in the Sea of Azov, according to Robert Brovdi (“Madyar”), commander of the AFU Unmanned Systems Forces. Ports that are part of the Azov-Black Sea basin system have also come under attack. Ukrainian drones, in particular, paralyzed operations at the ports of Azov and Taganrog, which have a combined annual cargo turnover of about 13 million tons. After one such attack, a three-kilometer oil slick appeared in the Sea of Azov. Residents of Taganrog also reported oily precipitation and contamination of the coastline with petroleum products.

At the same time, the AFU are striking vessels of the shadow fleet in the Black Sea. Brovdi reported the successful hitting of 70 vessels. Because of the Ukrainian attacks, the Russian authorities stopped accepting applications from shipping companies to pass through the Kerch Strait and banned anchorage near the port of Azov—one of the largest on the Sea of Azov, through which grain, coal, and petroleum products are exported.