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Ukraine Strikes Russian 'Shadow Fleet' as Moscow Continues Brutal Assault on Cities

Kyiv takes the fight to Russian energy infrastructure while enduring a massive wave of drone and missile attacks.

Foreign PolicyPublished May 3, 2026 at 1:43 PMProcessed May 4, 2026 at 2:46 AM
A woman wearing a mauve dressing gown scratches her head and looks at a damaged house surrounded by debris following a Russian drone attack in Ukraine's southern Odesa region. Photo: 3 May 2026

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has intensified as Kyiv takes the fight directly to the Russian energy sector. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces successfully struck three Russian oil tankers, a cruise-missile carrier, and a patrol boat across two Russian ports.

These vessels, described by Zelensky as part of Russia's 'shadow fleet' used to circumvent Western sanctions, are vital to the Kremlin's war machine. Ukraine’s strategic targeting of oil infrastructure, including the Primorsk terminal, has reportedly crippled billions of dollars in Russian exports.

While the Kremlin attempts to downplay these losses, the impact is undeniable, with officials even citing a 'terrorist threat' from Ukraine as a reason to scale back upcoming military parades. Meanwhile, Russia continues its campaign of aggression against the Ukrainian people.

Over the past 24 hours, Russian drone and missile strikes have claimed the lives of 10 civilians and left at least 76 injured across five regions. Despite the Ukrainian air force successfully intercepting the vast majority of the 269 drones launched by Moscow, the remaining impacts caused significant destruction in 15 locations.

As the war enters a new phase, Kyiv remains committed to hitting legitimate military and economic targets deep within Russian territory, refusing to back down against the ongoing invasion.

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ukrainerussiaforeign-policyenergy-securitywarfare

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