Ukraine has unleashed a relentless onslaught of sea drone and missile attacks against Russia's Black Sea Fleet, sinking multiple warships and support vessels in recent months and severely undermining Moscow's naval power in the region.
The latest strike, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency, occurred on Tuesday when maritime drones struck and sank the 1,300-ton Russian patrol ship Sergei Kotov near the Kerch Strait. "As a result of the strike by Magura V5 maritime drones, the Russian ship...sustained damage to the stern, starboard and port sides," sparking a fire that ultimately sank the vessel, the agency stated.
Andriy Yusov, a representative, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty "this time the Sergei Kotov has been destroyed for sure." Seven Russian crew were reportedly killed and six wounded in the attack coordinated with Ukraine's navy.
The Sergei Kotov strike follows a series of successful Ukrainian drone and missile strikes against Russian naval assets that has crippled Moscow's Black Sea capabilities as the war drags into its third year. Just last month, drones allegedly sank Russia's Caesar Kunikov amphibious ship and Ivanovets missile corvette.
"Ukraine claimed its forces had disabled about 33% of Russia's warships, amounting to 24 disabled ships and one submarine," reported the New York Times in mid-February after another Russian landing ship was struck.
The attacks, utilizing smart, hard-to-detect Magura drones as well as British/French cruise missiles, have provided a major strategic and morale boost for the outmanned Ukrainian forces. Kyiv's naval campaign has upended Russia's maritime dominance, aided Ukraine's exports, and forced Moscow to relocate ships away from Crimea.
"Ukraine has smartly used its limited resources to defeat far stronger Russian forces and destroy about 20% of the Black Sea fleet, effectively blunting Moscow's naval dominance," noted one Western official cited by AP.
Russian losses include its biggest of the war - the sinking of the missile cruiser Moskva in April 2022. Ukraine has also taken out radars, air defenses and intelligence planes supporting the fleet's operations.
The Magura drones, in their latest V5 iteration, are 5.5 meters long, weigh up to 1,000 kg, have a 500-mile range and 440 lb explosive payload. "The smart use of remote-controlled drone boats laden with explosives has allowed Ukraine to tip the scales of naval warfare in its favor despite Russia's massive superiority in firepower," reported the AP.
While the Russian Defense Ministry has stayed largely silent, military bloggers have slammed the navy's sluggish response to the growing threat. Some reported the Black Sea Fleet's commander was recently dismissed following the latest losses.
Despite the damage, Russia's fleet maintains missile strike capabilities from Crimea air bases. But Ukraine's drone blitz has forced it onto the defensive, relocating ships and limiting offensive operations - a strategic blow to Moscow's maritime goals.
"The successful strikes on Russian naval assets have allowed Ukraine to increase its food and other Black Sea exports" since Moscow withdrew from a grain deal last summer, the AP noted. Crimping Russia's naval blockade marks a key victory for Kyiv and international food security.
