Ukraine says it sank a Russian warship off Crimea in much-needed victory amid front line losses

Ukraine’s army intelligence service stated Tuesday {that a} particular operations unit from the war-torn nation had managed to sink one other Russian warship. The intel company launched an announcement early Tuesday morning saying the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov was destroyed close to the Kerch Strait, off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea.

It stated the ship was sunk in an in a single day operation carried out by the “Group 13” particular forces unit utilizing Ukrainian-made Magura V5 maritime drones. It estimated the loss to Russia’s navy of being within the area of $65 million.

A video posted on social media by Ukraine’s army intelligence company confirmed what it stated was the drone assault on the Russian vessel.

The variety of crew who had been on board the patrol ship, and their destiny, was nonetheless being decided, in response to Andriy Yusov, a consultant of the Predominant Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Protection of Ukraine. He stated there have been believed to be useless and wounded Russian sailors because of the assault.

The patrol ship reportedly had the flexibility to hold cruise missiles and as much as 60 crew members. 

The drone strike got here shortly after reviews of explosions being heard within the metropolis of Kerch, on the Crimean Peninsula. Social media posts reported that the strategic Crimean Bridge, which connects the peninsula that Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014 with the Russian mainland, was closed for greater than eight hours.

The Russian ship beforehand sustained harm and underwent repairs following a earlier maritime drone strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in September 2023.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Chief of Employees, stated on Tuesday that the “Russian Black Sea Fleet is a logo of occupation,” including that it “can’t be in Ukrainian Crimea.”

Russian officers didn’t instantly touch upon the reported sinking.

Ukraine stated it sank two different Russian warships in February,  a touchdown vessel referred to as the Caesar Kunikov, additionally off the coast of Crimea, in addition to a missile-armed corvette referred to as the Ivanovets.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, Ukrainian forces declare to have destroyed or broken a minimum of two dozen Russian ships.

However these particular person victories at sea come as Russian troops proceed advancing, taking new floor, alongside the lengthy entrance line that stretches from north to south throughout jap Ukraine.

Ukraine’s political and army leaders have beseeched their Western companions for months, begging for extra desperately wanted ammunition, artillery and different weapons — and warning that with out new provides, they will not have the ability to preserve Russia at bay.

Probably the most pressing request from Kyiv has been for the U.S. Congress to approve a $60 billion extra support package deal, which has been held up by partisan gridlock since late final 12 months.

Extra