Ukraine destroys Russian fast attack ships in occupied Crimea

Editor’s note: The article has been updated with additional information from military intelligence.

Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that Ukrainian forces destroyed a Russian fast attack ship on May 6.

The attack was reportedly carried out overnight in occupied Crimea using a Magura V5 multi-purpose maritime drone.

The agency later identified the attacked Russian ship as Mangust-class patrol boatalso known as Project 12150.

In the last few months, Ukraine has intensified his attacks occupied Crimeathat target Russian military installations in and around the Black Sea.

Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said earlier that Russia had withdrawn almost all of its troops big ships from ports in occupied Crimea after successful Ukrainian attacks.

The Mangust-class ships, valued at around $3 million apiece, will be used by Russia as multi-purpose, high-speed ships for patrols, counter-subversive operations and search and rescue operations, military intelligence said.

The boats are usually equipped with a remote-controlled weapons station with a 14.5 mm machine gun, as well as two AGS-17 grenade launchers, a DP-64 grenade launcher and two man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) Igla and Verba).

The combat operation was carried out by the “Group 13” unit Ukraine’s military intelligence service in collaboration with the fundraising platform United24 in Vuzka Bay in the Black Sea.

Ukraine had previously destroyed several Russian ships with a Magura V5 multi-purpose maritime drone, including a landing ship Caesar KunikovA Sergei Kotov Patrol ship, high speed Serna and Akula landing craft as well as a Tarantul class Ivanovets Missile corvette.

Ukrainian forces also partially damaged the Russian military ship Ivan Khurs using a Magura V5 drone.

On April 21, the Ukrainian Navy struck the Communa ship in occupied Sevastopol. It was launched in 1915 and is the oldest ship in the Russian Navy still in service.

Sevastopol is the homeland of Russia Black Sea Fleet and is frequently attacked by Ukrainian missiles Sea drone strikes.

Update: The Ukrainian Navy confirms that the Russian ship Kommuna was hit in Sevastopol

On April 21, a missile was fired at the Russian Black Sea Fleet stationed in occupied Sevastopol, said the city’s Russian-appointed governor. A Ukrainian military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent that information about the attack was still being clarified.