In what has been described as “another bad day for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets in the Black Sea. The exact location of the strike and the weapons used in the operation remain undisclosed, but the incident underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to target Russian naval assets despite having a considerably smaller naval presence.
The Ukrainian Navy celebrated this latest achievement as a step closer to victory. They have maintained a series of successful assaults on Russian warships, claiming in early 2024 that they had already eliminated a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s warships that had been deployed prior to the conflict. This includes a previous strike on the Kommuna, a rescue ship launched over a century ago.
The downed Kovrovets is a Project 266M Natya class minesweeper, a Soviet-era vessel that can accommodate a crew of 68 and is armed with two 30 mm naval guns and Lynx Radar. Deployed primarily for minesweeping operations, surveillance, and control sweep, these ships have played a vital role in naval safety and security. This is the second vessel of its class targeted by Ukraine, following a strategic pattern of weakening Russian maritime capabilities.
As Ukraine continues to face significant challenges on the eastern front, particularly near Kharkiv, these naval victories represent a crucial aspect of their defense strategy. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has recently announced that Ukraine does not have an artillery shell shortage, which seems to support the continuation of robust defensive operations.
The targeting of the Kovrovets comes after reports of Ukrainian strikes on Crimea and Novorossiysk, an essential Russian Naval base, indicating a focused Ukrainian approach to disrupting Russian naval operations in the region. The strategic importance of Novorossiysk has increased as the Russian navy has had to relocate assets from Crimean ports following Ukrainian assaults, a move that began after a missile strike on Sevastopol on September 22.
In response to these developments, Russia has reported that it shot down nine US-provided ATACMS missiles and multiple drones over Crimea. An official in Sevastopol claimed that the air defenses were operational, and no civilian facilities were damaged. However, these counter-claims have not been accompanied by independent verification.
The destruction of the Kovrovets, if confirmed, would add to the growing list of Russian naval assets impacted by Ukrainian military actions. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s announcement on social media, describing the event as “another bad day for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” serves both as a morale booster for Ukrainian forces and a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for dominance in the Black Sea.
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine Claims Destroying Russian Minesweeper In The Black Sea , Marine Insight, 05/21/2024
– Ukraine Destroys Russian Minesweeper in Black Sea, Ministry Celebrates, Business Insider, 05/19/2024
– Ukraine Destroys Russian Black Sea ‘Kovrovets’ Minesweeper, Newsweek, 05/19/2024
– Ukraine Says Naval Forces Destroyed Another Russian Warship, The Maritime Executive, 05/19/2024
– Ukraine war latest: Putin sacks minister in new sign of shift in war strategy; European country now pushing to let Ukraine strike deep into Russia, Sky News, 05/21/2024
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