The Ukrainian air force said Tuesday it had destroyed a vessel from the Russian fleet in the Black Sea suspected of carrying Iranian drones used by Moscow in the conflict with kyiv.
“The large landing ship Novocherkassk” was “destroyed” by the pilots of the Air Force, the Air Force said on the Telegram messaging service.
“People say he was carrying Shaheds,” Iranian explosive drones massively used by Russia against Ukraine, this source added.
The army did not specify the location of the strike but the commander of the air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, relayed a video showing an explosion and a spray of flames at the Russian naval base of Feodosia, located on the Black Sea in occupied Crimea.
The head of the “Republic of Crimea”, Sergei Aksionov, confirmed that an attack had occurred in Feodosia.
“An enemy attack was carried out in the Feodossia sector. The port sector is cordoned off,” the Russian official said on Telegram, assuring that “the detonation has ended” and that “the fire is contained.”
Mr. Aksionov did not specify the nature of the damage but stressed that “the inhabitants of several houses” had to be “evacuated”.
Ukraine frequently carries out strikes in Crimea, particularly targeting the Russian military. In April 2022, it sent the cruiser Moskva, the Russian flagship of the Black Sea fleet, to the bottom.
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