Russian warship damaged in Ukrainian drone attack near Novorossiysk
Ukraine's military intelligence has announced that one of Russia's Black Sea Fleet vessels was damaged in an operation near Novorossiysk.
It added that Ukrainian special forces (GUR) tracked and attacked a multipurpose MPSV07 vessel used for electronic reconnaissance and patrolling near the bay, according to The Moscow Times.
The vessel is a £47m rescue and intervention ship with an ice-reinforced hull and a 4MW power output. It was commissioned in 2015. According to The Insider, the ship is most likely the "Spasatel Demidov."
GUR specified the attack was carried out with a Ukrainian-produced drone that struck the command deck, where navigation and communication equipment were located. The strike destroyed the ship’s electronic reconnaissance equipment, leaving it "out of commission and in need of expensive repairs".
Russia's defence ministry has not commented on the incident. However, the attack was confirmed by the naval detachment of the "Espaniola" volunteer brigade and the pro-war Telegram channel 'Dva Maiora'. These sources claim the ship was not carrying weapons and that the damage was "insignificant."
Russia has four such vessels in its fleet, equipped with diving complexes, sonars, and electronic reconnaissance systems used for seafloor exploration and patrol missions.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy previously said Russia no longer has any fully operational ships following attacks in occupied Crimea. Satellite images show remaining Russian Black Sea Fleet vessels have been moved to Novorossiysk. However, this base has become vulnerable after the US and its allies allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russian territory.
The independent organisation Oryx says Ukraine has destroyed or damaged 28 Russian ships, including a submarine, since the war began.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
