The Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday that it had destroyed a ship in the Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea that was suspected of carrying Iranian drones that Moscow had used in the conflict with Kiev.
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“The large landing ship Novocherkassk” was “destroyed” by Air Force pilots in Feodosia in occupied Crimea, this source said on the Telegram news service.
“People say he was carrying Shaheds,” Iranian explosive drones that Russia is using heavily against Ukraine, the Air Force added.
The attack was carried out around 2:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) with “tactical aviation” cruise missiles, it said.
Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchouk transmitted a video that showed an explosion and a jet of flames. Feodosia is located on the Black Sea and is home to a large Russian naval base.
BREAKING:
The Ukrainian army has just blown up the Russian landing ship Novocherkassk.
If the ship was fully crewed, dozens of Russian sailors may have died.
Over @TheDolgo pic.twitter.com/m0C2DPSYZU
— Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) December 26, 2023
The head of the Republic of Crimea, Sergei Aksionov, confirmed that an attack had occurred at this location.
“An enemy attack was carried out in the Feodosia sector. The port sector is cordoned off,” the Russian official said on Telegram, assuring that “the detonation has stopped” and that “the fire has been contained.”
Mr. Aksionov did not provide details about the nature of the damage, but stressed that “the residents of several houses” had to be “evacuated.”
Ukraine frequently carries out attacks in Crimea, particularly against the Russian military. In April 2022, it sent aground the cruiser Moskva, the Russian flagship of the Black Sea Fleet.
The Air Force also said the country was the subject of a new night attack by Shahed drones, particularly in the Kherson and Odessa regions. Thirteen of the 19 Russian drones were intercepted, according to this source, which reported no casualties or destruction.