Ukrainian drone attack disables Russian warship

Ukraine carried out a drone strike on a Russian navy ship at a Black Sea base, a Ukraine security source told AFP yesterday, as Moscow said it had repelled a similar attack over annexed Crimea.
The number of attacks in the Black Sea has increased from both sides since Moscow exited a deal last month that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the shipping hub during the conflict between the two countries.
In a video of the purported attack obtained by AFP, a naval drone is seen speeding towards the darkened silhouette of a military vessel before the connection abruptly cuts off.
A Ukrainian attack targeting the Olenegorsky Gornyak landing ship in the Novorossiysk naval base in southern Russia was “successful”, a Ukrainian security source told AFP yesterday.
“The goal was to show that Ukraine can attack any Russian warship in that zone,” the source added.
Russia said it had repelled an attempted attack on the base by the Ukrainian armed forces “with the use of two unmanned sea boats”.
Video footage verified by Reuters showed the Olenegorsky Gornyak being towed to shore by a tug, listing heavily to its port side.
A source with knowledge of the port’s operations said a large Russian naval vessel had to be towed ashore because it could not move under its own power after being damaged.
The source, who did not name the vessel, said oil and grain loadings were still taking place at the port, which resumed normal operations hours after the attack.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been targeted since the beginning of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine more than a year ago, but attacks have increased in recent weeks.
“Another Russian ship is on the edge of its fall,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said on social media, alongside a video of a military vessel listing heavily to one side.
“The presence of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea... will be put to an end,” Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said following the most recent drone strike. “Ukraine will ensure freedom and security in the Black Sea for world trade.”
The port of Novorossiysk also hosts the terminus of a pipeline that carries most Kazakh oil exports through Russia.
The fuel artery’s operator Caspian Pipeline Consortium said it was continuing to ship oil to moored tankers at the terminal, Russian state media reported yesterday.
The Russian defence ministry meanwhile said it had downed 13 drones over the Crimean peninsula, without recording casualties or damage.
Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv throughout Moscow’s Ukraine offensive but has seen more intense attacks in recent weeks.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Crimea in July blew up an ammunition depot and damaged a strategic and symbolic bridge linking Russia’s mainland to the peninsula.
Earlier this week, Russia’s defence ministry said it foiled a Ukrainian drone attack targeting patrol boats in the Black Sea.
Three drones were trained on ships navigating in waters 340km southwest of Sevastopol, the base of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Crimea.