Ukraine claims to have dealt a severe blow to the Russian Black Sea fleet by damaging and sinking a Russian landing ship in its latest drone attack.
Ukrainian military intelligence released video footage on Wednesday purportedly showing several naval drones approaching the Ropucha-class large landing ship Cesar Kunikov near the coast of Crimea.
According to the agency, the drones targeted the port side of the ship, causing critical damage and leading to it beginning to sink.
The Cesar Kunikov, identified as a Project 775 large landing ship capable of carrying 87 crew members, has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Georgia, and Ukraine, the agency stated.
Footage circulated on social media depicted a ship emitting smoke in the Black Sea, with reports from local Russian media indicating a search-and-rescue operation involving helicopters was underway.
Russian military bloggers, often sources for information before official confirmation, also supported reports of the attack on the Cesar Kunikov.
If verified, this strike would mark the second successful operation this month against a Russian warship in the Black Sea.
On February 1st, Ukrainian Magura V5 sea drones reportedly targeted the Russian warship Ivanovets in a sophisticated nighttime attack, revealing vulnerabilities in Russia’s Black Sea fleet against unmanned naval vessels.
Ukraine’s military intelligence released grainy video footage showing sea drones attacking the Russian corvette, concluding with images showing it listing, exploding, and sinking.
The Ivanovets, a small missile warship with a usual crew complement of about 40, may have incurred casualties, given the speed and intensity of the assault.
Kyiv has progressively challenged Moscow’s initial dominance in the Black Sea through long-range missile strikes and the inventive use of sea drones.
Developed by Ukrainians, these sea drones, adapted from modified jet skis, are relatively inexpensive, operate in groups, and can be remotely controlled. The defense ministry’s video compilation is based on live feeds from the drones, capturing the moment of impact in some instances.
Ukraine has attributed both attacks to a specialized unit named Group 13, which focuses on unmanned naval warfare.
