Ukraine said on Friday it struck two Russian vessels in the Caspian Sea that had previously been sanctioned by the United States for transporting military cargoes between Iran and Russia.
Ukraine’s special forces said in a statement on Telegram that the operation was carried out with the help of what they described as a local resistance group and targeted the ships near the Russian republic of Kalmykia.
The vessels were identified as the Composer Rakhmaninoff and the Askar-Sarydzha. Ukraine said both ships had been used by Russia for military purposes and were under US sanctions over their role in moving weapons and military equipment between Iran and Russia.
Ukraine did not say how the ships were hit or provide details on the extent of any damage.
The statement said the resistance group had supplied information on the ships’ маршруtes and cargoes. Russia has not commented on the claim.
Iran and Russia have expanded military and logistical cooperation since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Western governments have accused Tehran of supplying drones and other equipment to Russia, allegations Iran has denied.
Iranian-designed Shahed drones, now manufactured inside Russia under the name Geran, have played a growing role in the war. The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the drones are increasingly overwhelming Ukraine’s air defenses as Russia steps up swarm attacks.
Ukraine’s air force has said Russia often launches large numbers of Shahed-type drones alongside missile strikes to strain air defense systems. The United States has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Iran’s drone production and procurement networks over their alleged role in supporting Russia’s war effort.
