Ukraine’s latest naval victory may be its most significant as British intelligence determined that the destruction of Russia’s Sergei Kotov ship would “limit” Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
“This is the third ship from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to sink in the past five weeks,” the British Ministry of Defense said in an update posted on social media platform X. Commander of the Maritime Fleet, Admiral Victor Sokolov, was dismissed. ”
The ministry stressed that “Ukraine continues to restrict the freedom of maneuver of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.”
Kiev on Tuesday used high-tech maritime drones to sink a warship and strike well behind its front lines, in what it claimed was an impressive demonstration of the strength and capabilities of the Ukrainian military. Seven crew members were reportedly killed and six injured in the attack, but Russian forces rescued the remaining 52.
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The latest information from British intelligence confirms the destruction of the Sergei Kotov, which the Russian government just commissioned into its fleet in July 2022. The warship was also survived by two other unmanned surface vessels (USVs), but sustained minimal damage and returned to duty quickly in both cases.
The moment Russian warship Sergei Kotov was hit by a Ukrainian suicide bomber. (East 2 West)
Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service (HUR) announced that the country’s military used Magura V5 drones in all three attacks, including the attack that ultimately sank the warship. According to the Associated Press, the Magura V5 unmanned vessel was designed and built in Ukraine and is carrying explosives.
The Ukrainian military attacked the Russian warship Sergei Kotov near Crimea with an unmanned naval vessel. (East 2 West)
Two drones attacked the ship, and the second attack caused a large explosion. A private security firm claims to have analyzed footage taken from the crew of a merchant ship in Crimea’s Feodosia port, where the attack took place, and that the crew of the Sergei Kotov opened fire in an attempt to stop the drone before it could attack. Announced. Occurred.
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On Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on social media platform VK that Ukraine responded with a high-precision missile attack on a hangar in the industrial port area of Odessa, where some of the USVs were developed.
“The purpose of the strike was achieved. The goal was defeated,” the ministry said.
The Sergei Kotov patrol boat was reportedly attacked by a Ukrainian Navy kamikaze drone in Crimea.
With the destruction of the Sergei Kotov, Ukraine continues its unexpected victory over the Black Sea Fleet. This victory began when it appeared that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was starting to run out of evidence that would allow him to continue recording his victories over Russian forces.
Ukraine had been building up its forces for a much-touted counterattack in 2023, but Russia managed to band together and build strong defenses to thwart Ukraine’s gains in the summer months. Officials expressed their dissatisfaction with harsh remarks when someone questioned them about the lack of results from the drive.
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Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said: “Criticizing the slow pace of the counterattack is spitting in the faces of Ukrainian soldiers who sacrifice their lives every day to advance and liberate kilometer after kilometer of Ukrainian territory.” It’s the equivalent of spitting.” Reporters on Thursday.
“I would like to invite all critics to shut up, come to Ukraine and try to liberate every square centimeter on your own,” he told a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain.
Video captured by a merchant ship in the Crimean port of Feodosia as the Sergei Kotov explodes. (East 2 West)
The Ukrainian fleet’s successes began in September after Moscow, encouraged by its success in frustrating Ukrainian counterattacks, refused to renew a UN-brokered agreement to secure grain shipments through the Black Sea. Kiev counterattacked, destroying more than a dozen Russian ships over the next few months.
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As Russian President Vladimir Putin reorganized his command, Russia ultimately had to move its naval forces out of the western Black Sea to protect its assets.
Reuters contributed to this report.
