Ukraine has dealt a significant blow to Russia's military capability in the Black Sea, sinking or disabling a third of all Russian warships in just over two years of conflict. The latest strike, carried out on Saturday night, targeted the Russian amphibious landing ship Kostiantyn Olshansky in Sevastopol, Crimea, which was previously part of the Ukrainian navy before Russia's annexation in 2014.
According to Ukraine's Navy spokesman, the attack also damaged two other landing ships, Azov and Yamal, as well as the Ivan Khurs intelligence ship. The strike, executed with Ukraine-built Neptune missiles, also hit Sevastopol port facilities and an oil depot. While Russian authorities reported a Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol over the weekend, they did not acknowledge any damage to their fleet.
With this latest assault, Ukraine has now destroyed or disabled a third of the warships that Russia had in the Black Sea prior to the conflict. Despite this success, only two of approximately a dozen Russian missile-carrying warships have been sunk, prompting Ukraine to vow to continue its strikes until there are no Russian military ships in the Azov and Black Sea regions.
The effective drone and missile strikes by Ukraine have not only boosted morale in Kyiv but have also created more favorable conditions for Ukrainian grain exports and other shipments from Black Sea ports. While Moscow has largely remained silent on Ukrainian claims, previous losses by the Russian navy have been confirmed by military bloggers and media, criticizing the slow and inadequate response of Russian military leadership to the threat.
Recent reports from Russian media suggest that the navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, has been replaced by Adm. Alexander Moiseyev, the commander of Russia's Northern Fleet. The Kremlin has yet to officially announce this reshuffle, but Moiseyev was presented as the new acting navy chief during a ceremony at a Russian naval base last week.
Ukraine's successful targeting of Russian warships underscores the ongoing conflict in the region and the strategic importance of naval superiority. The situation continues to evolve as both sides navigate the complexities of the conflict in the Black Sea.
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