Tuesday is day 741 of Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military confirmed Tuesday that it has destroyed the newest patrol ship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet with naval drones. Newsweek reported. The news was shared by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR).
Ukraine's military intelligence has identified the Russian ship as the Sergey Kotov, worth about $65 million. The Ministry of Defense said: 'Another Russian ship has been upgraded to a submarine. Tonight, the @DI_Ukraine special forces unit “Group 13” attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship “Sergei Kotov” worth $65 million. As a result of the attack by Magura V5 naval drones, the Russian ship project 22160, “Sergei Kotov”, suffered damage to the stern, right and left sides. Nice start to the day! Great job, warriors.”
Here's the tweet:
+1 Russian ship was upgraded to a submarine.
Tonight the special unit of the @DI_Ukraine “Group 13” attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship “Sergei Kotov” worth $65 million.
As a result of the attack by Magura V5 naval drones, the Russian project ship … pic.twitter.com/smZ1H1Ekp6
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 5, 2024
HUR's Special Forces Group 13 and the Ukrainian Navy took part in the operation with support from the Ministry of Digital Transformation, HUR said in a statement on Telegram.
A video later posted on social media platforms purports to show “how the Sergei Kotov was sunk.”
Watch the video here:
The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Service shared a video of the destruction of the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov.
Glory to the Ukrainian heroes! https://t.co/3KPMpgxXD8pic.twitter.com/4LGiEYQaEY
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 5, 2024
Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's chief of staff, said on Telegram that “Russia's Black Sea Fleet is a symbol of occupation. It can't be in Ukraine's Crimea,” in an apparent reference to the attack.
Train traffic was temporarily halted on the bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula with the Russian mainland, the Telegram channel of a Russian-installed official in Crimea said.
Last month, the Ukrainian military said it destroyed a Russian landing warship near Crimea in an operation involving naval drones that pierced the ship's port side and sank it. Reuters reported.
Tuesday is day 741 of Russia's war against Ukraine.