A Ukrainian naval drone has inflicted damage on a Russian naval ship in an alarming incident near the major Russian export hub of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, the assault involved two sea drones and was aimed at its naval base in the area. The ministry, however, claimed to have successfully repelled the attack without acknowledging any damage to its facilities.
In contrast, Ukrainian security service sources have reported that the Olenegorsky Gornyak, a Russian naval ship, was indeed hit during the attack and suffered a significant breach as a result. Surprisingly, Russia’s official report of the incident made no mention of any damage inflicted by the Ukrainian drone attack.
These sea drones, known as small unmanned vessels, are capable of operating on or below the water’s surface, making them a potent tool in naval engagements.
The situation in the region has escalated, with President Zelensky warning of the potential for war extending into Russian territory. Despite this tense backdrop, Zelensky has also expressed the possibility of a peace summit taking place in the coming autumn. However, both sides do not appear eager to establish the conditions for such a meeting.
In recent events, Russia has targeted major Black Sea ports such as Odesa and Chornomorsk, resulting in the destruction of 60,000 tonnes of grain, along with attacks on ports located along the River Danube.
Furthermore, on a separate occasion, Russia claimed to have successfully downed 10 Ukrainian aerial drones over Crimea, further exacerbating the already volatile situation in the region.
