UKRAINE has turned a narrow waterway in Eastern Europe into a Strait of Hormuz-style deathtrap for Russian ships.

One by one, Volodymyr Zelensky‘s forces have hunted down 201 vessels associated with the Kremlin’s shadow fleet in the past three weeks.

The Belize-flagged bulk carrier New Victory, formerly Argyroula, was struck by a Ukrainian drone in the Black Sea near the Russian port of Taman Credit: East2West

A Russian bulk carrier is seen burning after being hit by Ukrainian drones as Ukraine turns the Kerch Strait into a kill zone for Moscow’s shipping. Credit: East2West

Footage shows five ships in and around the Black Sea and Sea of Azov – the latest victims of the ruthless Operation MoLoCHKa, launched on July 6.

One is hit and damaged, another engulfed in flames, two abandoned and a fifth is dragged away by tugboats.

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The sea is a vital passageway linking Russia to occupied Crimea and serves as a transit route for precious commodities like oil and grain that fund the war.

The logic behind Ukraine‘s attacks is to disrupt shipping – and the peninsula then becomes more and more isolated, while the Kremlin loses revenue.

The relentless drone strikes even forced Russia to temporarily suspended civilian shipping through the Kerch Strait – the passageway being likened to the Strait of Hormuz, the Middle Eastern chokepoint blockaded by Iran.

Kerch does not possess Hormuz’s global economic importance, but it is key to lessening Vladimir Putin’s grip on the annexed territory.

Ukraine’s unprecedented maritime offensive has targeted tankers, bulk carriers, ferries, gas carriers, tugboats and floating cranes.

Damage includes catastrophic fires leaving vessels disabled or requiring rescue.

A scorched Russian bulk carrier is towed to safety after being hit by a Ukrainian drone Credit: East2West

A satellite image of vessels in the Kerch Strait, July 13, 2026 Credit: Reuters

This comes just days after Ukraine smashed an Iranian cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea – an act that threatened to bring the two conflicts together.

Ukraine has long accused the Islamic Republic of complicity in drone attacks.

Saturday’s strike appears to mark the first time Ukraine directly targeted an Iranian ship.

Officials said the vessel had been carrying components for drones and missiles from Iran to Russia, not civilian cargo.

Iran reacted furiously, summoning Ukraine’s chief diplomat in the country for a dressing down and threatening to retaliate.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned the attack, saying that the explosion killed one sailor and injured another.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the attack represented “a blatant UN Charter violation done at Israel’s behest to drag Europe into its war.”

The incident “CANNOT GO UNANSWERED,” he wrote on X.

Chiming in, the Kremlin said the strike should be considered as an assault on Iran itself.

Meanwhile, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Ukraine of widening the geographical scope of what he called its “terrorist attacks”.