Ukraine says dramatic video shows sea drones exploding and sinking Russian ship in Crimea
Attacks on ships and planes in the Black Sea have helped push back Russia's forces, allowing Ukraine to boost vital grain exports through its southern ports.
Thursday 1 February 2024 19:20, UK
Ukraine claims it has sunk a Russian warship using marine drones in an overnight operation in Crimea.
Its military intelligence agency, the GUR, said the ship - an Ivanovets missile boat - was patrolling the Black Sea near Lake Donuzlav, on Crimea's west.
It suffered huge damage from "a number of direct hits to the hull", said the GUR, before it "rolled to the stern and sank".
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Dramatic footage released by Ukraine appeared to show multiple drones hitting the ship and exploding, before the vessel eventually sinks.
Ukraine said preliminary information showed a Russian search and rescue operation on the lake was "unsuccessful".
Private security firm Ambrey said up to six drones were involved, with each normally carrying 300kg of explosives.
A Western official, speaking anonymously, said it was "highly likely that uncrewed surface vessels were responsible for the strike on the Ivanovets".
However, the Kremlin is still to comment on the claimed sinking.
Ukrainian attacks on ships and planes in the Black Sea have helped push back Russia's naval forces, allowing it to boost grain exports and goods through its southern ports.
The latest sinking claims come nearly two years after the Moskva was destroyed in the early months of the war - widely viewed as a significant propaganda victory for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia has claimed a military transport plane that crashed in late January was downed by two US-made Patriot missiles - which the West has supplied to the country.
Its investigative committee said the Il-76 transporter had four people on board, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war, six crew and three Russian servicemen.
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All are said to have been killed.
The committee - Russia's main criminal investigation agency - said the missiles were fired from the village of Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region.
It said 116 missile fragments were found near the crash site in Russia's Belgorod region, but did not produce any physical evidence to support the claims.