Russian submarine sunk in Crimean port, Ukraine claims
Ukraine’s military has claimed it sank a Russian submarine in a port in Crimea, in what would be another major setback for Moscow in the occupied peninsula.
Ukraine's military claimed a successful attack on a Russian submarine in Crimea, dealing a significant blow to Moscow's occupation of the peninsula. The "Rostov-on-Don" submarine was struck in Sevastopol on Friday, according to a statement by the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces on Saturday. They asserted that the submarine sank immediately, without providing further evidence. This claim, if confirmed, adds to Ukraine's previous successes against Russia's navy, including their Black Sea Fleet, a third of which Kyiv claims has been lost. The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented, and CNN is unable to independently verify the attack.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry celebrated the attack on social media, declaring that a Russian submarine "went to the bottom of the Black Sea" due to the strike in Sevastopol's port. Ukraine has consistently targeted Russian assets armed with Kalibr missiles, which have been used to attack critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The "Rostov-on-Don," a 73.8-meter Kilo II-class submarine commissioned in 2014, is capable of carrying a crew of 52 and launching Kalibr cruise missiles. This particular submarine was previously damaged in a Ukrainian missile attack in September 2023 but was repaired and operational again recently.
Ukraine has achieved notable successes against Russia's Black Sea Fleet through a combination of technological innovation and bold tactics. Over 20 Russian naval vessels have been disabled or destroyed, including the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, which sank in April 2022. In addition to the submarine attack, Ukraine also damaged four S-400 anti-aircraft missile launchers on Friday, potentially opening up opportunities for Ukrainian warplanes to engage more targets in Crimea. These sustained strikes against Russian military assets underscore Ukraine's effective strategy and their ability to inflict significant damage on the invading forces.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry celebrated the attack on social media, declaring that a Russian submarine "went to the bottom of the Black Sea" due to the strike in Sevastopol's port. Ukraine has consistently targeted Russian assets armed with Kalibr missiles, which have been used to attack critical Ukrainian infrastructure. The "Rostov-on-Don," a 73.8-meter Kilo II-class submarine commissioned in 2014, is capable of carrying a crew of 52 and launching Kalibr cruise missiles. This particular submarine was previously damaged in a Ukrainian missile attack in September 2023 but was repaired and operational again recently.
Ukraine has achieved notable successes against Russia's Black Sea Fleet through a combination of technological innovation and bold tactics. Over 20 Russian naval vessels have been disabled or destroyed, including the guided-missile cruiser Moskva, which sank in April 2022. In addition to the submarine attack, Ukraine also damaged four S-400 anti-aircraft missile launchers on Friday, potentially opening up opportunities for Ukrainian warplanes to engage more targets in Crimea. These sustained strikes against Russian military assets underscore Ukraine's effective strategy and their ability to inflict significant damage on the invading forces.