Ukrainian forces have intensified attacks on Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers operating in Crimean waters, striking 200 vessels within a three-week period, according to reports. The sustained campaign has effectively transformed the key Crimean shipping route into a high-risk chokepoint likened to the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the flow of sanctioned oil and cargo that Moscow relies on to sustain its economy and war effort.

The shadow fleet consists largely of ageing, often unregistered or falsely flagged tankers that Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions on its oil exports. By repeatedly targeting these vessels near occupied Crimea, Ukraine appears to be seeking to raise the cost and risk of using the waterway, potentially deterring shipping firms and insurers from servicing Russian trade through the region.