According to the global network, citing Reuters, ABC News and many others**March 6**, the Ukrainian military revealed that one of their secret attacks successfully destroyed a new warship of the Russian Navy.
According to the Ukrainian side, the attack was carried out by a special operations unit called the "13th Special Operations Group", and near the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea, they used up to 15 "Magura V5" suicide unmanned boats, using the tactics of "wolf pack attack", and successfully sank a large patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.
It is known that at the time of the attack, the patrol ship was on duty in the port of Feodosia near the Kerch Strait, and despite the fact that the Russian Navy counterattacked, destroying at least 10 unmanned boats, several small boats managed to hit the patrol ship. According to Ukrainian military sources, according to the analysis of the released infrared surveillance footage, the starboard, port side and stern of the patrol ship were successively attacked by suicide attacks by unmanned boats, at least twice of which caused serious damage to the hull structure and quickly ignited a fire.
According to a Ukrainian military source, although the Russian Navy tried to extinguish the fire on the ship and tow it back to port, it eventually had to abandon the ship due to the severe damage to the hull and the fact that it was not worth repairing, and there was a risk of explosion, which led to its sinking in the Black Sea.
As of now, it is not clear whether there were Russian naval personnel in the latest attack**. As in previous similar situations, the Kremlin and the Russian military have not yet responded. However, there are reports that the Ukrainian side believes that at least six Russian sailors were killed in the attack. In addition, according to the ** information disclosed by the Ukrainian side and internal sources of the Russian army, the Kotov has sunk.
The Kotov is an advanced large patrol ship of the Russian Navy, equipped with a variety of ** and carrier-based *** and has up to 60 days of self-sustaining capabilities at sea. According to Russian media reports, the ship was on a mission on the Black Sea coast at the time of the attack, intended to serve as a maritime situational awareness platform and defend against aerial drone attacks, but it was subjected to a "targeted attack" by the Ukrainian special forces.
This is not the first time a patrol ship of this class has been attacked. In October last year, the same ship Pavel Derzhavin was attacked by Ukrainian drones, and although the damage was not serious, it was put into battle after a short repair. If the sinking of the Kotov is confirmed, it will be another major blow to the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The recent increase in "asymmetric attacks" by the Ukrainian army on the Crimea region seems to have led to an increase in the losses of ships suffered by the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
In recent months, the Ukrainian military has repeatedly claimed to have destroyed Russia**, including at least one Tarantul-class frigate, a large landing ship and a minesweeper, as well as several patrol boats damaged in the fighting. Although these messages have not been confirmed by the Russian side, it is clear that Ukraine is increasing military pressure on the Crimea region, trying to force Russia to divert its attention and buy respite for Ukrainian troops on the front line.
The Russian Navy was hit hard by the sinking of the Moskva. At the same time, the frequent attacks of the Ukrainian army on the ** inside the Russian ports may mean that the Russian Navy's means of defense in the Black Sea region are not effective enough, and the survival of the Black Sea Fleet is facing a great threat.
In order to avoid further ship losses and reduce the damage to Russia's influence in the region, it is clear that the Russian military needs to achieve a breakthrough on the frontal battlefield as soon as possible and end the security crisis in the Crimea region.