A Russian amphibious vessel, the Caesar Kunikov, has reportedly been sunk off the coast of Crimea, as stated by Ukraine’s armed forces. The incident, marked by powerful explosions, occurred south of Yalta, according to local social media reports.
Ukraine’s intelligence directorate released footage showing Magura V5 sea drones purportedly attacking the ship, marking yet another strike on Russia’s Black Sea fleet stationed in Crimea. Satellite imagery from the previous year indicated a significant portion of the fleet had relocated to the Russian port of Novorossiysk.
In the lead-up to a NATO ministerial meeting, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of the Western defense alliance, commended Ukrainian forces for recent victories against the Black Sea fleet, which he claimed had facilitated Ukrainian grain exports by creating a corridor.
As Russia’s full-scale conflict in Ukraine nears its third year, Ukraine’s armed forces chief acknowledged the complexity and tension of the situation. Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, recently appointed as commander-in-chief, pledged reinforcements to units defending the flashpoint town of Avdiivka, currently encircled by Russian forces.
A missile strike overnight in Selydove, west of Avdiivka, resulted in three fatalities, including a child, with several others injured. The attack targeted a local hospital, maternity ward, and residential buildings.
While Russia’s navy has not confirmed the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov, reports from Ukraine’s main intelligence directorate suggest the vessel sustained critical damage and sank off the coast of Alupka in Ukrainian territorial waters.
The unmanned Magura V5 drones purportedly used in the attack are manufactured in Ukraine and known for their high-speed capabilities just above the sea surface. Amphibious ships like the Caesar Kunikov play a crucial role in swiftly deploying assault troops, particularly in hostile territories.
Russian military bloggers acknowledged the incident but asserted the survival of the ship’s crew, consistent with Russia’s tendency to downplay major losses. The Caesar Kunikov, a relic from the Soviet era, has previously been targeted in strikes, including one in March 2022 that damaged the vessel along with the Novocherkassk, and resulted in the sinking of the Saratov, during an attack on the occupied port of Berdyansk.
The sinking of the Caesar Kunikov, if confirmed, would mark the second successful strike in the Black Sea this month, following the sinking of the Ivanovets in a previous drone operation. The escalation underscores the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, exacerbated by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and subsequent involvement in the conflict.