Russia may have lost another warship in its Black Sea fleet, with reports indicating that Ukraine targeted a Russian minesweeper last weekend. Various sources suggest Moscow may have lost the corvette Cyclone, also known as Tsiklon, near Crimea. Kyiv has not responded to these claims yet. Ukraine’s navy announced on Sunday that they had eliminated the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets during the night, but did not give further details.
Recent reports indicate that the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets was destroyed in a strike at Sevastopol, the fleet’s crucial Crimean port. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced the sinking, stating, “Another bad day for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” highlighting the symbolic and strategic blow to Russian maritime strength.
This potential double loss, if verified, would mark a continuation of Ukrainian success in targeting Russian naval assets. Kyiv has utilized a variety of methods in its maritime campaign, including drones and precision-guided missiles, which have reportedly already disabled or destroyed roughly a third of the Black Sea Fleet, according to Ukraine’s Navy.
“The navy has suffered significantly in the Black Sea,” U.S. European Command chief, General Christopher Cavoli, said in April.
Ukraine has targeted a number of Russian vessels since the start of the year, including landing ships and a missile-armed corvette.
The Kovrovets, a Project 266M (NATO designation Yurka-class) minesweeper, was a Soviet-era vessel with a crew of 68. The minesweeper’s primary role was sweeping the seas around the Sevastopol naval base for anti-ship mines. Its destruction, thus, not only represents a tactical loss but also exposes Russian maritime operations to increased risk from seaborne threats.
Moscow has strengthened its Black Sea bases against Ukrainian drones and missile attacks, using decoys to confuse Kyiv’s operators, as assessed by the British government. It has announced plans to enhance protection around its Black Sea fleet with large-caliber machine guns to intercept naval drones before they reach Russian vessels.
Meanwhile, the Tsiklon, a Karakurt-class corvette, was one of Moscow’s most modern additions to the Black Sea Fleet, delivered in August 2023. This vessel, equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles and designed as an air defense platform, never launched any missiles at Ukraine, revealing potential limitations or strategic decisions within the Russian naval command.
An independent report by Astra news platform suggested that the Tsiklon was hit by three ATACMS missiles, which resulted in casualties among service personnel, further underscoring the lethal effectiveness of Ukrainian strikes. Notably, Western intelligence assessments indicate that Russia has limited its naval operations in the western Black Sea, possibly due to the increased threat from Ukrainian capabilities.
Perhaps even more significantly, the Ukrainian use of American-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) rockets in their operations against naval targets points to a shift in strategic applications of these traditionally land-attack weapons. If Ukraine indeed sank the Kovrovets with ATACMS, it suggests an unexpected precision capability, potentially changing the calculus of naval engagements in the Black Sea.
Relevant articles:
– Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Loses Another Warship: Reports , Newsweek, 05/21/2024
– Ukraine Navy: Missile Strikes Sinking One Russian Warship Confirmed, Second Probable, Kyiv Post, 05/20/2024
– In Blowing Up A Russian Minesweeper, Ukraine May Have Revealed A Secret: It Has ATACMS Rockets With 470-Pound Warheads, Forbes, 05/19/2024
– Ukraine Destroys Russian Minesweeper in Black Sea, Ministry Celebrates, Business Insider, 05/19/2024
– Ukraine Says Naval Forces Destroyed Another Russian Warship, The Maritime Executive, 05/19/2024
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