In a significant development, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for sinking a Russian submarine in Crimea, dealing another blow to Russia’s already weakened Black Sea fleet. The Ukrainian military, in a statement released on Saturday, asserted that the submarine Rostov-on-Don was sunk in the port of Sevastopol on Friday. The statement, as quoted by CNN, declared, “The boat sank on the spot.” It further emphasized that the sinking “proves once again that there is no safe place for the Russian fleet in Ukrainian territorial waters of the Black Sea”.
While the sinking of the Rostov-on-Don hasn’t been independently confirmed, the claim adds to the string of losses Russia has incurred in the Black Sea. Western estimates indicate that Russia’s Black Sea fleet has lost up to a third of its vessels, with the number of damaged or destroyed ships estimated to be between 20 and 26. Even without independent confirmation, reports suggest that Ukraine had previously struck the Rostov-on-Don. According to CNN, the Ukrainian military stated that the submarine was “severely damaged” in a missile attack back in September 2023.
This alleged attack on the Rostov-on-Don submarine was part of a larger Ukrainian offensive targeting Russian airfields and oil depots. In recent months, Ukraine has been carrying out strikes deep within Russian territory and in areas of Ukraine controlled by Russia. These strikes have targeted military facilities, factories, and oil refineries and depots. The Ukrainian government announced that Friday’s attack targeted facilities in the Belgorod, Kursk, and Rostov regions, according to Reuters. The Ukrainian military also stated that they damaged four launchers of the S-400 anti-aircraft “Triumf” defense system. Additionally, Reuters reported that Ukraine claimed the attack also hit an ammunition depot at Morozovsk airfield, where Russia stores guided aerial bombs.
