Ukrainian sea drones damage Russian Black Sea fleet patrol ship near Crimea

Ukrainian sea drones damaged a Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship off occupied Crimea, Ukrainian military intelligence said on Tuesday (5 March).

The intelligence agency said on Telegram messaging app that its special unit Group 13 attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait.

“As a result of a strike by Magura V5 maritime drones, the Russian ship Project 22160 Sergey Kotov sustained damage to the stern, starboard and port sides,” it said. The message added that the ship was worth about $65 million.

The Ukrainian defence ministry said on X, formerly Twitter, that Sergey Kotov, worth $65 million, was “upgraded to a submarine”.

+1 russian ship was upgraded to a submarine.

Tonight, the special unit of the @DI_Ukraine "Group 13" attacked the patrol ship of the russian Black Sea Fleet, "Sergei Kotov," worth $65 million.

As a result of the attack by Magura V5 naval drones, the russian ship of project… pic.twitter.com/smZ1H1Ekp6

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) March 5, 2024

Highway traffic was also suspended for several hours before reopening just before 0700 GMT, according to the Telegram channel of the Russian-installed administration managing the bridge.

Reuters was unable to verify the reports. The Russian defence ministry did not immediately replied to a Reuters request for comment.

Ukrainian military said last month it had destroyed a Russian landing warship near Crimea in an operation with naval drones that breached the vessel’s port side and caused it to sink.

Ukraine, US commanders in talks

Ukraine’s defence minister said on Monday that he and the commander of its armed forces discussed with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin the front line situation in the two-year-old war against Russia and the supply of weapons.

“We informed Defence Secretary Austin about the current situation at the front and discussed changes in the most important sectors,” Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Telegram, noting that armed forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had also taken part.

“We are working together on providing for the needs of the Ukrainian armed forces and increasing the army’s capabilities.”

Syrskyi, writing separately on Telegram, said the two men also spoke with British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and the chief of Britain’s Defence Staff, Sir Tony Radakin.

Syrskyi said the discussions focused on the needs of the Ukrainian military and the development of Ukraine’s naval capabilities with help from Kyiv’s allies.

(Edited by Georgi Gotev)