WarJuly 16, 2026 12:00 pm • 2 min readScreenshot of a video released by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) on July 16 showing a naval drone targeting a Russian shadow fleet tanker in the Black Sea (SBU/Telegram)Ukrainian sea drones struck two Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on July 6.Russia's shadow fleet consists of thousands of aging, often uninsured vessels, which the Kremlin uses to transport oil and evade sanctions.Moscow finances its war machine in Ukraine through profits from oil exports while also using the ships to supply fuel to occupied Ukrainian territories.According to the SBU, the two vessels hit were the tankers Louise 1 and Banda."The destruction of the shadow fleet ships is a systematic deprivation of the Kremlin of money for war," the SBU said in a post on social media."It is these tankers, contrary to international sanctions, that transport Russian oil and fill the budget of the aggressor state with billions of dollars. Therefore, each strike on the shadow fleet is a direct blow to the ability of the Russian Federation to continue aggression," it added.0:00/The strikes come amid a dramatic escalation in Ukraine's attacks against Russian shipping in recent weeks.A series of now daily reports by Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, have detailed aerial drone strikes on Russian shipping in the Sea of Azov as part of Ukraine's wider campaign to strangle occupied Crimea.The military says the targeted vessels support Russia's military logistics by transporting cargo and servicing port infrastructure.As of July 14, Brovdi said Ukrainian drones had attacked 116 vessels in the Sea of Azov.This campaign was widened to include the Black Sea on July 15 with 20 vessels being targeted overnight.News FeedThursday, July 1612:13 pm (Updated: July 16, 2026 12:23 pm) Koretskyi's Cabinet is expected to be appointed later on July 16. President Volodymyr Zelensky's dismissal of Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked a wave of criticism from lawmakers, soldiers, veterans, and civil society figures, who argue Ukraine is losing one of its most effective wartime officials without a clear explanation.12:00 pm According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the two vessels hit were the tankers Louise 1 and Banda.10:55 am Colonel Pavlo Yelizarov warned in his resignation letter that the dismissal would cause more casualties and destruction in Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks. 9:47 am The number includes 1,340 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.1:31 am (Updated: July 16, 2026 7:00 am) Explosions rocked Kyiv shortly before 1 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyv City Military Administration, reported that Russia was attacking the city with ballistic missiles. 5:57 am "(T)he IHF looks forward to welcoming them back into the international handball community and hopes that, with the support and cooperation of all stakeholders, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure a timely and effective return," the body said in a news release.4:06 am Russia's Engels-2 air base in Saratov Oblast was reportedly hit by Ukrainian drones overnight on July 16, Russian Telegram media channels reported. 2:58 am "Our naval strategic nuclear forces maintain a state of full combat readiness," Russian Presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev said in an interview with the state outlet RIA Novosti. 12:34 am The new measures, adopted based on proposals from Ukraine's National Bank, aim to stop Russia from using modern financial instruments, such as cryptocurrency, to circumvent sanctions and make international payments. Wednesday, July 1512:28 pm (Updated: July 15, 2026 11:48 pm) Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the president had formally submitted his nomination for Serhii Koretskyi to be the next prime minister of Ukraine. 8:15 pm (Updated: July 15, 2026 11:05 pm) Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been offered the role of Ukraine's next defense minister, a lawmaker from the governing Servant of the People party told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.10:43 pm10:35 pm The decision appears to have been made at the last minute, according to one official, who said reports of Vitalii Kim's expected appointment caught even his own team off guard.8:52 pm (Updated: July 15, 2026 10:01 pm)WarShow More