Ukraine Claims to Disable Third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet with Sea Drone Attack
In a stunning development, Ukraine has claimed to have disabled a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet through a sea drone attack. According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the attack took place off the coast of Crimea on Wednesday and targeted Russia’s landing ship Caesar Kunikov. The agency stated that the ship was attacked with “MAGURA” V5 drones, which punctured critical holes on its left side, causing it to sink.
This latest attack aligns with Ukraine’s previous claims that they have disabled approximately 33% of Russia’s warships, including 24 ships and one submarine. The Caesar Kunikov would be the 25th disabled ship, according to Ukraine’s count. The attack was carried out by the agency’s “Group 13” special forces unit in cooperation with Ukraine’s security and defense forces.
Footage provided by Ukraine showed a sea drone racing towards the Caesar Kunikov before a massive plume of smoke rose from the vessel. However, CNN could not independently verify Ukraine’s claims, and the Kremlin declined to comment on the reported attack.
This attack is part of a series of strikes by Ukraine on Russia’s navy as it seeks to land strategic and symbolic blows against Russian forces that annexed Crimea in 2014. While the frontlines between Ukraine and Russia have remained mostly static for months, Ukraine has shifted its focus to the Black Sea, aiming to isolate the peninsula and make it more difficult for Russia to sustain its military operations on the Ukrainian mainland.
Earlier this month, Ukraine claimed to have sunk the Ivanovets, a Russian guided-missile ship, in the Black Sea. The most notable strike was on the Moskva in April 2022, which forced Russia to alter its operations near areas controlled by Ukraine.
Ukraine’s use of sea drones has proven highly effective in its attacks on Russia’s fleet. Each drone carries at least 250kg (500lb) of explosives, and their large range of around 800 kilometers (nearly 500 miles) allows for missions against Crimean targets from various locations along Ukraine’s coastline.
Drones have become increasingly crucial for Ukraine in leveling the playing field with Russia. Former top general Valerii Zaluzhnyi emphasized the importance of drones in avoiding a positional war where Ukraine lacks the advantage. Zaluzhnyi stated that unmanned systems, such as drones, along with other advanced weapons, provide the best means for Ukraine to maintain an advantage.
One of Ukraine’s drone pilots revealed that drones have proven advantageous in the Black Sea due to their small size and difficulty to detect. Their maneuverability surpasses that of warships, making them highly effective in targeting enemy vessels.
While Ukraine’s claims of disabling a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet are yet to be independently verified, these sea drone attacks represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. As tensions continue to rise, the use of advanced technologies like drones is likely to play an increasingly prominent role in the region’s military operations.
CNN’s Joseph Ataman, Frederik Pleitgen, Daria Tarasova-Markina, Lauren Kent, and Anna Chernova contributed to this report.
