Ukraine claimed to have sunk another ship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. A video released by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's official X handle claimed a special unit of Kyiv's Intelligence Unit destroyed the Russian missile corvette "Ivanovets."
"Ship wreck of the day! Warriors of the special unit "Group 13" of the @DI_Ukraine destroyed the missile corvette "Ivanovets" of the russian Black Sea Fleet. As a result of a number of direct hits to the hull, the corvette was damaged, rolled to the stern, and sank. The value of the ship is approximately $60–70 million. Nice job, warriors!" the tweet read. The Week couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video.
The footage showed multiple naval drones crashing into a vessel and exploding. According to GUR, the ship costing between $60-$70 million was on patrol on Lake Donuzlav in western Crimea, when a GUR special unit struck it. The lake has been more of a bay since 1961, when a channel connecting it to the Black Sea was dug out.
The Associated Press reported private security firm Ambrey said Ukraine used up to six sea drones, each of which usually carry 300 kg (661 pounds) of explosives, in the attack. The GUR footage showed the ship was sinking.
Ship wreck of the day!
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 1, 2024
Warriors of the special unit "Group 13" of the @DI_Ukraine destroyed the missile corvette "Ivanovets" of the russian Black Sea Fleet.
As a result of a number of direct hits to the hull, the corvette was damaged, rolled to the stern, and sank. The value of… pic.twitter.com/JZwh8aggn0
However, there was no info on loss of lives on either side as a consequence of the attack.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE MARINE ATTACK HERE:
There was no immediate reaction to the claim from Moscow.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ukrainian military had claimed to have struck a military air base in Russian-occupied Crimea. In a post on Telegram, Ukraine's Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk thanked the military for conducting the operation, hitting Belbek airfield on the southwestern tip of the Crimea Peninsula near Russia's main naval base at Sevastopol.
"Ukrainian aviators will definitely return to their home airfield," he said, posting a video from social media of the purported strike. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Moscow thwarted an attack on Crimea and shot down 20 Ukrainian missiles - 17 over the Black Sea and three more over the peninsula.
