Ukraine Damages Two Russian Black Sea Fleet Landing Ships In Crimea

Russian Serna Class lander. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/men's

JAKARTA - Ukrainian forces damaged two Russian small landing vessels in Crimea in a nightly attack using marine drones, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said on Friday.

"As a result of the nightly operation in the temporarily occupied Crimea region, the small amphibious ship Russia's Black Sea Fleet was hit by the army," the intelligence agency said via a Telegram messaging application.

The statement said the ships were manned and loaded with armored vehicles. The extent of the damage is not known with certainty, while there is no comment from the Russian side.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet is known to be based in Sevastopol, Crimea. Ukraine said Ukraine said several Russian naval vessels had been relocated from Sevastopol following a recent attack.

Citing the Defence Blog, the targeted ship was identified as the Serna Project 11770 class landing ship, according to intelligence statements.

The Serna Project 11770 class landing ship was used by Russia to transfer equipment and military personnel during the occupation of Snake Island. The ships often load armored vehicles, including BTR82.

In addition, Russian troops equipped this landing ship with the Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile system, thereby increasing its defense capabilities while operating on the Crimean peninsula and in the Black Sea.

Serna-class landing ships have high speed, capable of transporting cargo up to 45 tons and housing 92 armed personnel. These ships serve as vital assets for the Russian military in landing advanced marine infantry units or evacuation.

"With the absence of reliable Russian naval air defense systems, these ships, equipped with anti-aircraft complexes, act as protectors of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, especially after recent attacks by Security and Defense Forces," according to Ukrainian intelligence.