In a significant development in the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has struck the Konstantin Olshansky, a warship commandeered by Russia during the 2014 annexation of Crimea, rendering it “not combat-capable,” according to Ukrainian navy spokesperson Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk. This marks another assertive act by Ukraine’s forces against Russian naval power in the Black Sea.
It had been undergoing renovation and preparation for deployment against Ukraine, Pletenchuk told national television. The weapon used in the strike was a Ukrainian-made Neptune anti-ship missile, a weapon with a growing track record of successful deployment against Russian naval targets.
“This ship is not combat-capable,” stated Pletenchuk, underscoring the success of the operation which took place over the weekend. The strike forms part of a series of Ukrainian attacks against Russian naval assets, significantly affecting the operational capability of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
The Neptune missile, a home-grown long-range cruise missile designed by Kyiv’s Luch Design Bureau, has been previously credited with sinking the Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, in April 2022. The choice of weapon for this strike illustrates Ukraine’s ongoing commitment to developing and deploying indigenous defense technology.
With its limited naval resources, Ukraine has nonetheless been successful in targeting Russian vessels, using missiles and seaborne drones to counteract the presence of the Russian navy in the Black Sea. According to Ukrainian officials, these efforts have culminated in the loss of up to a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at the hands of Kyiv’s forces.
These recent strikes are not just tactical victories for Ukraine but also carry symbolic weight. “Justice has been restored,” proclaimed the Ukrainian defense ministry on social media, as the Konstantin Olshansky once stood as a symbol of Russian aggression and annexation.
The broader implications of these attacks are evident. They have forced Russia to reconsider its naval logistics, likely leading to increased land transportation and reliance on key routes such as the Crimea Bridge. The Yamal and the Azov were Ropucha-class vessels that played an “essential role” in Russian logistics, according to Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow in sea power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank in London. The loss of several Ropucha-class vessels will hinder Russian logistics, Kaushal told Newsweek. “They are the key logistical contribution the Black Sea Fleet makes to the wider war effort, linking Crimea to the mainland.”
“I am grateful to all of our heroes who destroy enemy logistics in the occupied territories. Those who clear Crimea and the Black Sea of the occupiers’ presence,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation on Sunday.
Relevant articles:
– Ukraine says it hit warship that Russia took from it in 2014 with a missile
– Ukraine Strikes Yet Another Ship in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Newsweek, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:31:39 GMT
– Ukraine used a Neptune missile to attack its own warship that Russia stole a decade ago, Business Insider, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:02:00 GMT
– Ukraine Strikes Landing Ship Stolen By Russia During 2014 Annexation of Crimea, War History Online, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:55:18 GMT