Ukraine said its drone forces struck eight tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” overnight, in a widening campaign against maritime fuel supplies to occupied Crimea.

Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said a dry cargo vessel and a ferry were also hit.

Seven tankers were identified as Venera-3, Sanar-1, Sanar-17, Klimena, Teti, Alexei Savrasov and Penelopa, with the eighth still being confirmed.

Brovdi said the tankers were under international sanctions, each with a deadweight of about 7,000 tonnes and a length of roughly 140 metres.

The reported strikes followed attacks a day earlier on two fuel tankers in the Sea of Azov and two S-400 air-defence launchers in Russia’s Bryansk region and occupied Crimea.