CRIMEA IS THE PRIZE
Satellite Images Show Russian Black Sea Fleet Damage After Kyiv's 'Success'Ukraine Strikes Yet Another Ship in Russia's Black Sea Fleet
By Brendan Cole
Senior News Reporter
Published Mar 30, 2024
Satellite imagery shared by British defense officials has shown the extent of the damage caused by Ukraine's latest strikes on Russian Black Sea Fleet targets.
Despite having only a small navy, Ukraine has used missiles and naval drones to great effect against Russia's navy since the start of Vladimir Putin's invasion.
These attacks have increased in frequency in recent months as it looks to fulfill one of its war aims to reclaim Crimea, which Putin illegally annexed in 2014.
Satellite imagery shared by British defense officials has shown the extent of the damage caused by Ukraine's latest strikes on Russian Black Sea Fleet targets.
Despite having only a small navy, Ukraine has used missiles and naval drones to great effect against Russia's navy since the start of Vladimir Putin's invasion.
These attacks have increased in frequency in recent months as it looks to fulfill one of its war aims to reclaim Crimea, which Putin illegally annexed in 2014.
This illustrative image from July 27, 2023 shows the Ropucha-class landing ship of the Russian Navy Yamal during Navy Day celebrations in the Crimean city of Sevastopol. The vessel was damaged by Ukrainian strikes
The Ukrainian military said it attacked on March 24 two large Russian landing ships, the Ropucha-class vessels the Yamal and the Azov, berthed in Sevastopol.
A communications hub and other infrastructure in the port city were also struck, Kyiv said, without specifying how it hit the targets.
A Moscow-installed official in the city said there had been a major Ukrainian air attack but air defenses managed to shoot down more than 10 missiles.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense posted on X pictures it said showed the aftermath of the strikes, and compared Russia's Black Sea Fleet communications center with what it looked like on January 1. An image from March 24 shows structural damage to one building which included a partial roof collapse. Blast damage could also been seen on two additional buildings.
Another image shows the damage caused to the two Ropucha-class landing ships, tanks as well as the Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship.
In its update, British defense officials said that strikes like these had forced Russia to move its higher naval assets from Sevastopol to alternative port facilities further east.
"Despite Russia's attempts to limit its losses, Ukraine continues to demonstrate success in diminishing the Black Sea Fleet's ability to project power in the region," said the update, which tends to emphasize Russian losses and Kyiv's gains.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
The Ukrainian military said it attacked on March 24 two large Russian landing ships, the Ropucha-class vessels the Yamal and the Azov, berthed in Sevastopol.
A communications hub and other infrastructure in the port city were also struck, Kyiv said, without specifying how it hit the targets.
A Moscow-installed official in the city said there had been a major Ukrainian air attack but air defenses managed to shoot down more than 10 missiles.
The U.K. Ministry of Defense posted on X pictures it said showed the aftermath of the strikes, and compared Russia's Black Sea Fleet communications center with what it looked like on January 1. An image from March 24 shows structural damage to one building which included a partial roof collapse. Blast damage could also been seen on two additional buildings.
Another image shows the damage caused to the two Ropucha-class landing ships, tanks as well as the Yury Ivanov-class intelligence ship.
In its update, British defense officials said that strikes like these had forced Russia to move its higher naval assets from Sevastopol to alternative port facilities further east.
"Despite Russia's attempts to limit its losses, Ukraine continues to demonstrate success in diminishing the Black Sea Fleet's ability to project power in the region," said the update, which tends to emphasize Russian losses and Kyiv's gains.
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
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The threat posed by Ukraine has forced Moscow to shift much of its Black Sea Fleet towards Novorossiysk, in Russia's Krasnodar region, hampering Moscow's ability to operate in the western part of the sea.
However, Ukrainian officials says this port has inferior facilities to Sevastopol which Moscow's forces still have to use for some activities, such as reloading Kalibr missile systems on vessels.
In another assessment this month, the British Defense Ministry said Russia was painting decoy submarines on the side of quays at its Black Sea ports in a bid to disguise them from Ukrainian drone operators.
Russian flotilla is a sitting duck for Ukraine, UK says
Ukraine issues warning to Russia after Black Sea Fleet strikes
The threat posed by Ukraine has forced Moscow to shift much of its Black Sea Fleet towards Novorossiysk, in Russia's Krasnodar region, hampering Moscow's ability to operate in the western part of the sea.
However, Ukrainian officials says this port has inferior facilities to Sevastopol which Moscow's forces still have to use for some activities, such as reloading Kalibr missile systems on vessels.
In another assessment this month, the British Defense Ministry said Russia was painting decoy submarines on the side of quays at its Black Sea ports in a bid to disguise them from Ukrainian drone operators.
British Intelligence: Russia is installing barges to protect its fleet in the Black Sea
31 Mar, 2024
The forces of the Russian Federation have begun installing barges near the entrance to the Novorossiysk seaport "to protect the Black Sea Fleet," according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense of Britain.
"Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned as the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility on Vovorossiysk Sea port. This is an effort to enhance the defences of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewd Surface Vessels," the intelligence writes.
The British Ministry of Defense says that "currently, the Novorossiysk port plays a crucial role in protecting the assets of the Black Sea Fleet."
It is noted that former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral Viktor Sokolov was recently removed from office "due to Ukraine's success in striking Russian ships both at sea and in ports."
"His replacement, Vice Admiral Sergey Pinchuk, has likely sought to mprove the survival chances of Russia vessels by adopting further preventative and defensive measures, including narrowing the entrance gap to port facilites," adds the Ministry of Defense of Britain.
31 Mar, 2024
The forces of the Russian Federation have begun installing barges near the entrance to the Novorossiysk seaport "to protect the Black Sea Fleet," according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense of Britain.
"Recent imagery analysis has identified four barges positioned as the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility on Vovorossiysk Sea port. This is an effort to enhance the defences of the port against attacks from Ukrainian Uncrewd Surface Vessels," the intelligence writes.
The British Ministry of Defense says that "currently, the Novorossiysk port plays a crucial role in protecting the assets of the Black Sea Fleet."
It is noted that former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral Viktor Sokolov was recently removed from office "due to Ukraine's success in striking Russian ships both at sea and in ports."
"His replacement, Vice Admiral Sergey Pinchuk, has likely sought to mprove the survival chances of Russia vessels by adopting further preventative and defensive measures, including narrowing the entrance gap to port facilites," adds the Ministry of Defense of Britain.
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