Ukraine Claims to Sink Russian Warship in Black Sea with Sea Drones
In a stunning turn of events, Ukraine has announced that it successfully used sea drones to attack and sink a Russian warship in the Black Sea near the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula. The military intelligence agency, known as GUR, released a video that allegedly shows the nighttime attack on the missile-armed corvette Ivanovets.
The grainy footage, accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack, depicts a series of explosions and the eventual listing of the ship to one side. The video concludes with the vessel sinking stern-first into the sea. According to GUR, the Russian ship suffered significant damage to its hull, rendering it unable to continue its movement.
The attack was carried out by Group 13, a unit within GUR, while the Ivanovets was on patrol in Lake Donuzlav, which is connected to the Black Sea by a channel. Despite the Ukrainian claims, Russia has not officially responded to the incident. This is not the first time that Ukraine has targeted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, as they previously sank the flagship Moskva in April 2022.
During that incident, Ukraine claimed to have used a cruise missile to sink the Soviet-era ship, a claim that was later supported by the United States. However, Russia initially denied the loss of the Moskva and attributed its sinking to a fire caused by ammunition detonation. Disinformation has become prevalent in this ongoing conflict, making it difficult to independently verify the accuracy of the footage or claims.
Private security firm Ambrey revealed that Ukraine utilized up to six sea drones, each carrying approximately 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of explosives, in the attack. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also supported Ukraine’s account and stated that it was highly likely that uncrewed surface vessels were responsible for the strike on the Ivanovets.
The Ukrainian navy emphasized the significance of the Ivanovets’ sinking, as Russia only has three ships of the same class in its Black Sea Fleet. This loss further weakens Russia’s naval capabilities in the region. Crimea, which was invaded and annexed by Russia in 2014, has been a frequent target of Ukrainian drones and missiles.
In response to the recent attack, Russia claimed to have destroyed 20 Ukrainian missiles over the area. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which began two years ago, has been marked by disinformation and escalating tensions. As the war enters its third year, it remains to be seen how this latest development will impact the ongoing conflict in the region.