Ukraine’s military intelligence reported on Tuesday, via the Telegram app, that they had “destroyed” a Russian naval patrol ship in the Black Sea near the Crimea Peninsula and struck an oil depot in Russia’s Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine.
The Black Sea has emerged as an increasingly significant battleground in the war now entering its third year, with Ukrainian forces claiming responsibility for a series of attacks on Moscow’s fleet.
The intelligence statement detailed that “following an attack by sea drones, the Russian ship Sergei Kotov suffered damage” in several parts of it.
The Ukrainian Navy disclosed cooperation with military intelligence in this operation, which resulted in the destruction of Russia’s “most modern patrol ship.”
The statement highlighted the attack took place in “Ukrainian territorial waters” close to the Crimea Peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014. Kyiv had previously attacked the Russian ship in September.
Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence, clarified that the ship was damaged in a previous attack but was “definitely destroyed this time” in an overnight operation from Monday to Tuesday.
Regarding the crew, Yusov mentioned, “The situation is being clarified. There are dead and injured. However, it is likely that some of the crew managed” to leave the ship.
Military intelligence also released a black-and-white video on Tuesday, claiming it depicted the nighttime attack. The footage showed a sea drone approaching the 94-meter-long Russian ship before an explosion resulted in a large fireball, with smoke billowing and debris flying high.
The drones struck the ship near the Kerch Strait, “causing damage to the stern and both the right and left sides.”
The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on a potential Black Sea attack. However, some military bloggers close to the army confirmed the ship was targeted.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian Air Force announced it had downed 18 of 22 attack drones launched by Russia over the Black Sea city of Odessa.
Since the invasion began in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have managed to inflict damage on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using missiles and sea drones.
Ukrainian forces claim they have neutralized about a third of the Russian warships in this strategic area.
Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, stated that the Russian fleet in the Black Sea is a “symbol of occupation,” adding, “It cannot be present in Ukrainian Crimea.”
Targeting an Oil Depot
Moreover, Ukrainian military intelligence carried out a drone attack on an oil depot in Russia’s bordering Belgorod region, as confirmed by a Ukrainian military source.
The strike targeted a facility belonging to an oil company in the village of Dolgoe in the Gubkin area, about 90 kilometers north of Belgorod, the regional capital bearing the same name.
Belgorod’s governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported on Telegram that an explosion caused “a fire at a facility” in the Gubkin area, without providing further details.
Local media clarified that the explosion was due to a drone attack on an oil depot in the city of Gubkin.
Gladkov noted that the Belgorod region was targeted in the last 24 hours by several drone strikes and shells, causing damage to vehicles in various towns.
Kyiv has targeted numerous Russian oil facilities in recent months, describing it as a justified response to Moscow’s attacks on the Ukrainian power grid.
Meanwhile, the governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, mentioned on Telegram that “Glushkovo railway station was targeted by strikes from Ukraine,” noting the attack “did not result in any injuries.”
He added that the strikes caused a fire, quickly controlled, and damaged high-voltage lines, leading to power outages at Glushkovo station and the nearby village of Kolpaki.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday morning the destruction of a drone over the Kursk region and three Ukrainian drones overnight above the Belgorod region.
