In a recent overnight operation, Ukraine has asserted that it successfully targeted two Russian landing craft in occupied Crimea using sea drones. This marks an escalation in the series of strikes on the peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. According to Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR), two Russian assault boats were hit near Chernomorske, Crimea, by Ukrainian sea drones.
GUR released a video depicting the alleged moment of the strikes, showing sea drones approaching targets that appear to be landing craft at a dock. The second drone in the video appears to film the first one as it hits the landing craft. GUR claims that the targeted boats were crewed and loaded with armored vehicles.
While CNN cannot independently verify the video, date, or location, it provides a visual representation of the claimed operation. Russia has not officially commented on the incident. The Ukrainian military has increased its assaults on occupied Crimea in recent months, aiming to undermine Russian forces. In September, Ukraine launched a fierce attack on a Russian naval base in Sevastopol, marking its most destructive strike on the port since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
According to the Russian military blogger Rybar, the latest attack involved a coordinated aerial assault diverting attention, allowing Ukrainian sea drones to strike. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence claims that the targeted landing craft were similar to those used by Russia in its occupation of Zmiinyi Island at the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting three Ukrainian drones over Crimea during the early hours of the incident, with no reported casualties. The situation reflects the ongoing tension in the region, with both sides engaging in military actions amid the complex geopolitical landscape.