Ukraine says sank Russian landing craft at Snake Island

Kyiv announced Saturday that it has destroyed another Russian warship near the Black Sea’s Snake Island, where Ukrainian servicemen were honoured for bravery after refusing Russian requests to surrender.

According to a statement from Ukraine’s defence ministry, an armed drone damaged a Serna-class landing craft and a missile defence system on the small island controlled by Russia.

It released shaky over-the-shoulder footage on social media of what appeared to be an explosion over a light craft, with debris streaming outwards.

“The traditional parade of the Russian Black Sea fleet on May 9 this year will be held near Snake Island — at the bottom of the sea,” the defence ministry added.

The military said in a separate statement on social media that the Bayraktar drone strike had also destroyed Tor-M2 anti-aircraft system being delivered to the island.

There was no immediate confirmation of the strike from the Russian defence ministry.

Ukraine earlier this month said its drones destroyed two Russian patrol boats, also near Snake Island.

The outpost became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance after a radio conversation at the start of the war went viral, in which Ukrainian soldiers used an expletive while rebuffing a surrender demand by the Russian battleship Moskva.

The Moskva went down in the Black Sea in mid-April after an explosion on board, according to Moscow. According to Ukraine and the United States, the warship was hit with missiles.