Satellite images have unveiled a significant setback for the Russian navy in Crimea following a Ukrainian strike. The imagery, captured by Maxar, shows the Russian tank landing ship Novocherkassk suffering extensive damage at a port in Crimea. The vessel appears burnt out, partially submerged, and detached from the port, with smoke emanating from it.
This development follows Ukraine’s claim of a successful attack on the port of Feodosia in Crimea, a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. In contrast, Moscow has acknowledged that the ship was “damaged.” Comparing the current image with one taken before the strike indicates the effectiveness of the Ukrainian operation.
Ukrainian Navy Spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk, in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, highlighted the challenges in obtaining accurate casualty figures, given the Russian control over Crimea. “This territory, unfortunately, is occupied now, and it’s not easy to do the relevant intelligence. And I think that over time, we will get at least approximate figures [of casualties] of what happened in reality,” Pletenchuk said.
The Novocherkassk, a 369-foot vessel of the Ropucha class, is similar in size to a US Navy littoral combat ship and can carry a crew of about 87, along with 237 troops. The boat, designed for beach landings, can accommodate up to 25 armoured personnel carriers.
Significantly, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk claimed on Telegram that the Novocherkassk was transporting Iran-made Shahed attack drones, drawing a parallel to the fate of the Moskva, another Russian vessel lost in April 2022.
The Russian Defense Ministry admitted the vessel was damaged in the Ukrainian attack, a fact reported to President Vladimir Putin by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, as per Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. However, Russia’s claim contrasts with Ukraine’s assertion of the ship’s destruction.
CNN, unable to independently verify these claims, noted social media videos showing explosions at the Feodosia port. This incident marks the third significant loss of Russian military hardware in a short span if confirmed. Earlier, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed the Minsk, a sister ship of the Novocherkassk, at the Sevastopol naval base.
This maritime setback occurs amidst challenges Ukraine faces in its ground campaign in the east. General Valery Zaluzhnyi warned of potential losses in Avdiivka, comparable to those in Bakhmut while acknowledging Ukrainian forces’ retreat from Marinka village.
The attack on the Novocherkassk symbolizes a strategic shift in the ongoing conflict, demonstrating Ukraine’s capacity to inflict significant damage on Russian naval assets. As the war evolves, the repercussions of such strikes on the broader conflict remain to be seen, highlighting modern warfare’s complex and fluid nature.
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