Ukraine Sinks Russian Warship in Special Operation
Ukraine’s military intelligence service announced today that a special operations unit successfully sank a Russian warship. The Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov was destroyed near the Kerch Strait, off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea.
Operation Details
The ship was sunk in an overnight operation carried out by the “Group 13” special forces unit. The unit used Ukrainian-made Magura V5 maritime drones. The estimated cost of the ship’s destruction to Russia’s navy is approximately $65 million.
A video released by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency showed the drone attack on the Russian vessel (see video here).
Consequences and Casualties
According to Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, the number of crew members on board the patrol ship and their fate is still being determined. It is believed that there are casualties among the Russian sailors.
Previous Attacks and Repairs
It’s worth noting that the Russian ship previously sustained damage and underwent repairs due to a maritime drone strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in September 2023.
Continued Russian Advancement
Despite Ukraine’s successful naval operations, Russian troops continue to advance and seize new ground along the long front line that stretches across eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Plea for Support
Ukraine’s political and military leaders have been desperately seeking increased support from their Western partners, particularly the United States. They have requested approval of a $60 billion additional aid package to strengthen their defense capabilities against Russian aggression. However, approval of the aid package has been delayed due to partisan gridlock in Congress.
