In a significant blow to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Ukraine has announced that it has sunk another warship, disabling a third of the fleet. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency reported that the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was attacked and sunk by sea drones off the coast of Crimea. This latest attack follows Ukraine’s claims last week that they had already disabled about 33% of Russia’s warships, including 24 ships and one submarine.
According to the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, the attack on the Caesar Kunikov was carried out by their “Group 13” special forces unit in cooperation with Ukraine’s security and defense forces. Night-time footage provided by Ukraine showed a sea drone racing towards the warship before a plume of smoke rose from the vessel. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine stated that the ship had been moored for 10 days at a specialized berthing location where Russia could load it with weapons and military equipment. The ship appeared to be loaded at the time of the attack.
Ukraine’s strikes on Russia’s navy, including the recent attack on the Caesar Kunikov, are part of their efforts to land strategic and symbolic blows against Russian forces that annexed Crimea in 2014. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, the frontlines have remained mostly static. However, 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.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised Ukraine’s achievements, stating that they have been able to inflict heavy losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. He also highlighted that Ukraine’s armed forces have pushed away the Russian fleet, allowing them to export grain and other commodities to the world market.
Ukraine has increasingly relied on drones to level the playing field with Russia. The “MAGURA” drones used in the recent attack are small, difficult to detect, and highly maneuverable. They have a range of around 800 kilometers, allowing Ukraine to launch them from various locations along its coastline for missions against Crimean targets. Drones have provided Ukraine with an advantage in the Black Sea, as they can target warships more easily than traditional vessels.
Ukraine’s claim of sinking another Russian warship, disabling a third of the Black Sea Fleet, marks a significant blow to Russia’s naval capabilities. The use of sea drones in the attack demonstrates Ukraine’s increasing reliance on advanced technology to counter Russian forces. As tensions continue to escalate in the region, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating.