Ukraine claims destruction of Russian warship in Black Sea

• Ukraine's military intelligence spokesman, Andriy Yusov, claims the ship was hit previously.
• The Russian defense ministry did not issue an official response.
• Ukraine's air force reported downing 18 of 22 Iranian-designed attack drones launched by Russia.

On Tuesday, Ukraine claimed that its forces had destroyed a Russian military patrol boat on the Black Sea near the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed 10 years ago. The strategic waterway has become an increasingly important battleground as Ukrainian forces claim a string of attacks on Moscow’s fleet.

Andriy Yusov, Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman, stated that the ship had been hit previously but was destroyed after the overnight attack by maritime drones.

“As for the crew, the details are being clarified. There are dead and wounded. But some of the crew likely managed to evacuate,” he told Ukrainian media.

The Russian defense ministry did not issue an official response.

Earlier, Ukraine’s military intelligence reported that their drones struck the ship near the Kerch Strait, causing “damage to the stern, starboard, and port sides.” Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, stated that Russia’s Black Sea fleet is “a symbol of the occupation,” adding that, “it cannot be in Ukraine’s Crimea.”

Ukraine’s air force announced earlier on Tuesday that it had downed 18 of 22 Iranian-designed attack drones launched by Russia over the Black Sea port city of Odesa.

[embedpost slug="ukraine-war-us-issued-warning-that-avdiivka-will-fall-soon/"]