Ukraine launched a suicide boat, sinking a Russian warship in the Black Sea 0
(Dan Tri) – Ukrainian intelligence announced the use of suicide boats to attack Russian warships in the Black Sea.
Image from video provided by Ukraine shows an unmanned boat at sea rushing towards a Russian warship in the Black Sea on February 14 (Photo: Ukrainian Defense Intelligence/Telegram).
`On February 14, the Defense Intelligence Agency of Ukraine, in coordination with all forces of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, destroyed the large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
According to the Defense Intelligence Agency of Ukraine, the attack occurred in the Black Sea, near the city of Alupka on the Crimean peninsula.
`After the attack, large holes appeared on the port side and the Tsezar Kunikov began to sink. Enemy rescue efforts were not successful,` Ukrainian intelligence confirmed.
Video shot at night provided by Ukraine shows an unmanned boat rushing towards the Russian warship, before a huge column of smoke rose from the ship.
The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency noted that the Project 775 large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov is one of Russia’s newest ships.
The Tsezar Kunikov can carry a crew of 87 members on board.
`Ukraine disabled one-third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in a large-scale attack,` a Ukrainian armed forces source told CNN after today’s attack.
The Tsezar Kunikov was photographed in Istanbul, Türkiye in 2020 (Photo: Reuters).
Last week, Ukraine announced it had disabled about 33% of Russia’s warships, including 24 surface ships and one submarine.
The sinking of the Tsezar Kunikov is the latest in a series of Ukrainian attacks on the Russian navy.
Since last year, Ukraine has turned to the Black Sea region, warning of attacks on Crimea and Russian ships aimed at isolating the peninsula and making it more difficult for Russia to maintain military operations on the peninsula.
Earlier this month, Ukraine announced it had sunk the Ivanovets, a Russian missile corvette, also in the Black Sea.
Russia is said to have relocated a number of ships in the Black Sea from the Crimean peninsula to the Novorossiysk base in Russia’s Krasnodar region, away from the Ukrainian coast.
Russia is also said to be establishing another Black Sea base in Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia.
Ukraine does not have a strong navy but has used unmanned vehicles and missiles provided by the West to achieve great effectiveness in raids on Russian targets.
The British government said aid from NATO allies would help Ukraine `transform its navy`, bringing it on par with the alliance and enhancing security in the Black Sea.
