Ukraine Destroys Russian Submarine in Crimea

Ukraine’s military claims it has successfully targeted and destroyed a Russian submarine while it was docked at a port in the occupied Crimean peninsula.

The Rostov-on-Don, a Kilo-class attack submarine launched in 2014, was reportedly hit during a missile strike on the port city of Sevastopol on Friday, leading to its sinking, according to a statement from Ukraine’s general staff.

The submarine, which was one of four operated by Russia’s Black Sea fleet and capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, was said to be worth $300 million (£233 million). The Russian Defence Ministry has yet to comment on the incident.

Additionally, Ukrainian officials reported that the attack also neutralized four S-400 air defence systems in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014.

Intelligence reports from the UK last September indicated that the Rostov-on-Don had “likely suffered catastrophic damage” during a previous missile strike while undergoing maintenance at a Sevastopol shipyard. Ukraine stated that Russia had since repaired the submarine, which was recently seen testing its capabilities near Sevastopol.

“The destruction of Rostov-on-Don once again proves that there is no safe place for the Russian fleet in the Ukrainian territorial waters of the Black Sea,” Ukraine’s general staff stated on Saturday.

This attack is the latest in a series of strikes on Russian naval forces in Sevastopol. In March, Ukraine claimed to have hit two landing ships and a patrol vessel in the port city.

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Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, its naval forces have faced significant setbacks. Ukraine asserts that it has seriously damaged or sunk at least 15 Russian warships, including the Black Sea fleet’s flagship, the Moskva.

Recently, Ukraine’s military announced that Russia had withdrawn all naval assets from the Sea of Azov due to repeated strikes. Meanwhile, Russia’s FSB reported foiling a Ukrainian plot to destroy its last remaining aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov.

In other developments, Ukrainian drones reportedly targeted a major airfield and several oil depots in Russia. The Morozovsk airfield, used for storing guided bombs, was among the targets, with footage showing powerful explosions and large fires.

President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of preventing Russian aircraft from launching munitions and defended attacks on Russian airfields as “quite fair.” Despite past reluctance from Ukraine’s allies to allow strikes within Russia, the US recently permitted Kyiv to target specific locations along the border.

Lithuania’s foreign minister confirmed that the first deliveries of F-16 fighter jets had arrived in Ukraine, with six aircraft donated by the Netherlands reported to be among the new arrivals. These jets are crucial to Ukraine’s air defence strategy amid ongoing Russian advances in the east.

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