Ukraine intensifies strikes on Russian oil tankers while pursuing Patriot missile licence

The Ukrainian military said it used drones to attack 21 Russian oil tankers in the Sea of Azov, part of a broader campaign to cut fuel supplies to Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territories. Four tugs, two cargo ships and a barge were also hit, and a crew member on a technical vessel was killed. The attacks follow a series of recent strikes on Russian shipping and on on‑shore transshipment facilities such as the Taganrog port.

At the same time, Ukraine holds the strategic town of Kostiantynivka and claims its home‑grown Flamingo cruise missiles are increasingly effective against Russian refineries, which western analysts say are operating at about 40% of normal capacity. On the diplomatic front, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a licence that would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot‑system missiles under licence, though details on the technical implementation and timeline—estimated at 24‑30 months for PAC‑3 production—remain to be worked out.

Both developments aim to weaken Russian logistics and improve Ukrainian air‑defence capabilities as the conflict continues.