The Russian army on Saturday accused Ukraine and the United Kingdom of a “terrorist” drone attack on their Black Sea fleet in Crimea’s Sevastopol port and said one of their ships suffered “minor” damage.
“The preparation of this act of terrorism and the training of the military of the 73rd Special Center for Maritime Operations of Ukraine were carried out by British experts,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram, adding that one of its ships, the “Ivan Golubets”, was recorded ” minor damage”.
This drone attack on Russian Black Sea Fleet facilities in Crimea, a Russianannexed peninsula, is the “most massive” of the conflict in Ukraine, said proRussian governor of the city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvojayev.
“It was the most massive attack by drones and remotely operated surface vehicles on the waters of Sevastopol Bay in the history of the conflict,” Razvojayev said, according to the TASS news agency.
Russia said its ships involved in the attack were involved in a UNbrokered deal to allow Ukrainian grain to be exported.
“It should be noted that the Black Sea Fleet ships attacked by terrorists are involved in ensuring the security of the ‘Grain Corridor’ as part of an international initiative to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.