Ukraine Claims Destruction of Russian Submarine in Crimean Port
Ukraine’s military has announced the successful targeting and destruction of a Russian submarine anchored in the occupied Crimean peninsula. The Rostov-on-Don, a kilo-class attack submarine that was launched in 2014, was reportedly hit by a missile attack while docked in Sevastopol on Friday, according to a statement from Ukraine’s general staff.
The submarine, one of four in Russia’s Black Sea fleet capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, was said to have sunk following the attack. The Russian defense ministry has not issued any comments on the incident. Additionally, Kyiv officials claimed the strike also took out four S-400 air defense systems that were protecting the peninsula, which Russia annexed illegally in 2014.
British intelligence noted in September that the Rostov-on-Don likely suffered catastrophic damage from a missile strike during maintenance at a Sevastopol shipyard. Ukraine’s military indicated that Russia had since repaired the vessel, which was recently testing its capabilities near Sevastopol. The submarine, valued at $300 million (£233 million), is a significant loss for Russia.
“The destruction of Rostov-on-Don is further proof that no location is safe for the Russian fleet within the Ukrainian territorial waters of the Black Sea,” stated Ukraine’s general staff on Saturday. This marks the latest in a series of attacks on Russian naval forces in Sevastopol in recent months. In March, Ukraine claimed it struck two landing ships and a patrol vessel in the port city.
Since the start of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian navy has faced several major setbacks. Ukraine asserts it has significantly damaged or sunk at least 15 Russian warships, including the Black Sea fleet’s flagship, the Moskva.
Recently, Ukraine’s military reported that Russian naval assets were forced to withdraw from the Sea of Azov, a body of water connected to the Black Sea, due to repeated strikes. Additionally, Russia’s internal security service, the FSB, claimed to have foiled a Ukrainian plot to destroy its last remaining aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been under repair since 2018.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones targeted a major airfield and oil depots in Russia. The Morozovsk airfield, known for storing guided bombs that have recently caused significant damage to Ukrainian cities, was hit. Footage from the base showed powerful explosions and fires, suggesting hits on fuel or ammunition depots. Although Russia reported shooting down many of the drones, local authorities declared a state of emergency around the air base. Oil storage facilities in the Rostov, Kursk, and Belgorod regions were also targeted.
These attacks follow Russia’s launch of over 600 guided air bombs towards Ukraine within a week, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky. He emphasized the importance of preventing Russian aircraft from launching these munitions, considering attacks on Russian airfields a fair strategy.
Ukraine’s allies have traditionally been hesitant to permit strikes within Russia using Western weapons, but the US recently allowed Kyiv to target some areas along the border. Earlier this week, Lithuania’s foreign minister announced the arrival of the first deliveries of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. These jets, long promised by NATO allies, are seen as crucial to Ukraine’s air defense plans. According to The Times, six jets donated by the Netherlands have arrived, though Dutch defense officials have not commented.
Kyiv officials hope these jets will help counteract Russian advances on the frontlines, as Moscow’s forces have been making slow but steady progress in eastern Ukraine for several weeks.
