Ukraine Claims Sinking of Russian Warship in Black Sea Using High-Tech Sea Drones
In a stunning development, Ukraine announced on Tuesday that it had successfully sunk another Russian warship in the Black Sea using advanced sea drones. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency reported that a special operations unit had destroyed the large patrol ship Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait. While Russian authorities have not confirmed the claim, the sinking of such a modern vessel would be a significant loss for Moscow.
The Sergey Kotov, commissioned in 2021, is equipped with cruise missiles and has a crew of around 60. It is considered an important part of Russia’s countermeasures against drone attacks. According to an article published by the Foreign Policy Research Institute, patrol ships like the Sergey Kotov use radar and helicopters to detect and destroy drones using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. However, Ukraine’s successful attack on the ship demonstrates the limitations of these countermeasures.
Ukraine has been struggling to hold off the better-provisioned Russian army along the front line, which stretches for 1,500 kilometers (930 miles). However, they have also been able to target Russian warships in the Black Sea, pushing the Russian fleet away from the coast. This strategic success has allowed Ukraine to establish a grain export corridor.
The Ukrainian defense ministry released a video on X, formerly Twitter, showing the nighttime attack on the Sergey Kotov. The attack was carried out using Magura V5 uncrewed vessels that are designed and built in Ukraine. These vessels were laden with explosives and successfully inflicted significant damage on the Russian ship. Seven Russian crew members were killed, six were injured, and 52 were rescued, according to the military intelligence agency.
It is important to note that these claims by Ukraine have not been independently verified. Disinformation has been rampant throughout the conflict between Ukraine and Russia since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. However, the private security firm Ambrey reported that it had seen footage taken by a crew member on a merchant vessel in the port of Feodosia, Crimea, showing the Sergey Kotov firing at the drones. The ship was hit at least twice, with the second strike resulting in a large blast.
This is not the first time Ukraine has claimed to have sunk Russian warships using drones. Last month, they asserted that they had sunk the Russian missile-armed corvette Ivanovets and destroyed the Caesar Kunikov landing ship. Russian officials did not confirm these claims. However, in a similar incident almost two years ago, Russia’s flagship Black Sea fleet, the Moskva guided-missile cruiser, sank after sustaining heavy damage in a missile attack.
In addition to the sinking of the Sergey Kotov, tensions between Russia and NATO allies continue to escalate. On Tuesday, the Russian military scrambled a Su-27 fighter jet to escort a French E-3F military surveillance plane, accompanied by two Rafale fighter jets, over the Black Sea. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Su-27 was deployed to prevent a violation of their state border. Moscow has repeatedly accused NATO allies of gathering intelligence information to assist Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces.
As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, both sides are employing advanced technologies and tactics to gain an upper hand. The sinking of the Sergey Kotov serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of warfare and the significant role that drones now play. While Ukraine celebrates this victory, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond and whether they will confirm or deny Ukraine’s claims. The situation in the Black Sea continues to be a critical theater in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.