Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Ukrainian Navy Says a Third of Russian Warships in the Black Sea Have Been Destroyed or Disabled
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 9 months ago on
March 27, 2024

Ukraine's navy has reportedly sunk or disabled a third of Russia's Black Sea fleet, dealing a significant blow to Moscow's military capabilities. (AP File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea in just over two years of war, the navy spokesman said Tuesday, a heavy blow to Moscow’s military capability.

Ukraine’s Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk told The Associated Press that the latest strike on Saturday night hit the Russian amphibious landing ship Kostiantyn Olshansky that was resting in dock in Sevastopol in Russia-occupied Crimea. The ship was part of the Ukrainian navy before Russia captured it while annexing the Black Sea peninsula in 2014.

Previous Strikes and Damage

Pletenchuk has previously announced that two other landing ships of the same type, Azov and Yamal, also were damaged in Saturday’s strike along with the Ivan Khurs intelligence ship.

He told the AP that the weekend attack, which was launched with Ukraine-built Neptune missiles, also hit Sevastopol port facilities and an oil depot.

Russian authorities reported a massive Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol over the weekend but didn’t acknowledge any damage to the fleet.

Impact on Russian Fleet

Pletenchuk said that with the latest attack, a third of all warships that Russian had in the Black Sea before the war have been destroyed or disabled. At the same time, he acknowledged that just two of about a dozen of Russian missile carrying warships have been sunk and pledged that Ukraine will continue the strikes.

“Our ultimate goal is complete absence of military ships of the so-called Russian Federation in the Azov and Black Sea regions,” Pletenchuk told the AP.

Boost for Kyiv

Successful Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have provided a major morale boost for Kyiv at a time when its undermanned and under-gunned forces are facing Russian attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.

Challenging Russia’s naval superiority also has helped create more favorable conditions for Ukrainian grain exports and other shipments from the country’s Black Sea ports.

Russian Response

Moscow officials have kept mum on most of Ukrainian claims, but previous navy losses have been confirmed by Russian military bloggers and media who have harshly criticized the military brass for its slow and sloppy response to the threat.

Earlier this month, Russian media reported that the navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, had been fired and replaced with Adm. Alexander Moiseyev, the commander of Russia’s Northern Fleet. The Kremlin hasn’t yet announced the reshuffle, but last week Moiseyev was presented as the new acting navy chief during a ceremony at a Russian naval base.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani to Become a Father for the 1st Time in 2025

DON'T MISS

Winning $1.22 Billion Mega Millions Ticket Sold in California

DON'T MISS

Herbert Tosses 3 TD Passes as Chargers Secure Playoff Spot

DON'T MISS

15 Hurt When Passenger Train Strikes Fire Truck That Drove Into Crossing After Freight Train Passed

DON'T MISS

Trump Appears to Side With Musk, Tech Allies in Debate Over Foreign Workers Roiling His Supporters

DON'T MISS

Physical Therapy Is ‘The Best-Kept Secret in Health Care’

DON'T MISS

Dodgers Set to Re-Sign Outfielder Teoscar Hernández for $66 Million Over 3 Years, AP Source Says

DON'T MISS

Israel Detains the Director of One of Northern Gaza’s Last Functioning Hospitals During a Raid

DON'T MISS

Putin Apologizes for ‘Tragic Incident’ but Stops Short of Saying Azerbaijani Plane Was Shot Down

DON'T MISS

Father of Raiders DE Fights to Erase 1983 Conviction DA Says Was Tainted by Police

UP NEXT

Winning $1.22 Billion Mega Millions Ticket Sold in California

UP NEXT

Herbert Tosses 3 TD Passes as Chargers Secure Playoff Spot

UP NEXT

15 Hurt When Passenger Train Strikes Fire Truck That Drove Into Crossing After Freight Train Passed

UP NEXT

Trump Appears to Side With Musk, Tech Allies in Debate Over Foreign Workers Roiling His Supporters

UP NEXT

Physical Therapy Is ‘The Best-Kept Secret in Health Care’

UP NEXT

Dodgers Set to Re-Sign Outfielder Teoscar Hernández for $66 Million Over 3 Years, AP Source Says

UP NEXT

Israel Detains the Director of One of Northern Gaza’s Last Functioning Hospitals During a Raid

UP NEXT

Putin Apologizes for ‘Tragic Incident’ but Stops Short of Saying Azerbaijani Plane Was Shot Down

UP NEXT

Father of Raiders DE Fights to Erase 1983 Conviction DA Says Was Tainted by Police

UP NEXT

Financial Tips for Millennials to Navigate the Trump Era

15 Hurt When Passenger Train Strikes Fire Truck That Drove Into Crossing After Freight Train Passed

4 hours ago

Trump Appears to Side With Musk, Tech Allies in Debate Over Foreign Workers Roiling His Supporters

7 hours ago

Physical Therapy Is ‘The Best-Kept Secret in Health Care’

10 hours ago

Dodgers Set to Re-Sign Outfielder Teoscar Hernández for $66 Million Over 3 Years, AP Source Says

10 hours ago

Israel Detains the Director of One of Northern Gaza’s Last Functioning Hospitals During a Raid

11 hours ago

Putin Apologizes for ‘Tragic Incident’ but Stops Short of Saying Azerbaijani Plane Was Shot Down

11 hours ago

Father of Raiders DE Fights to Erase 1983 Conviction DA Says Was Tainted by Police

14 hours ago

Financial Tips for Millennials to Navigate the Trump Era

15 hours ago

The Midnight Kiss Is Dead – Here’s How the Cool Kids Celebrate New Year’s

15 hours ago

Why Mountain Meadows Should Be a Priority for New CA Climate Bond

16 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani to Become a Father for the 1st Time in 2025

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is adding a newcomer to his family lineup. The 30-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers superstar posted on his Instagram...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani to Become a Father for the 1st Time in 2025

3 hours ago

Winning $1.22 Billion Mega Millions Ticket Sold in California

4 hours ago

Herbert Tosses 3 TD Passes as Chargers Secure Playoff Spot

4 hours ago

15 Hurt When Passenger Train Strikes Fire Truck That Drove Into Crossing After Freight Train Passed

7 hours ago

Trump Appears to Side With Musk, Tech Allies in Debate Over Foreign Workers Roiling His Supporters

10 hours ago

Physical Therapy Is ‘The Best-Kept Secret in Health Care’

10 hours ago

Dodgers Set to Re-Sign Outfielder Teoscar Hernández for $66 Million Over 3 Years, AP Source Says

11 hours ago

Israel Detains the Director of One of Northern Gaza’s Last Functioning Hospitals During a Raid

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend