Ukraine has destroyed the Russian landing ship “Tsezar Kunikov” in the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian military intelligence.
“On February 14, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, in cooperation with all components of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, destroyed the large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov of the Black Sea Fleet of the aggressor state of Russia,” the statement reads.
The ship was attacked by the Magura V5 strike sea drones near the shores of temporarily occupied Crimea, not far from the city of Alupka. “Tsezar Kunikov suffered critical breaches on the port side and began to sink. It is symbolic that the Russian officer after whom the ship was named was killed exactly 81 years ago [on February 14],” added Ukraine’s intelligence.
This is one of the newest Russian vessels. The ship could accommodate 87 crew members on board and was used by Russia in wars against Georgia, Syria, and Ukraine. “The occupiers’ search and rescue operation was unsuccessful,” the intelligence added.
After the destruction of Tsezar Kunikov in the Black Sea, only five of the 13 Russian Black Sea Fleet ships remain operational, said Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, in an interview with Radio Liberty.
UPDATE: Happy Valentine’s Day, Ukraine!
мінус “Цезарь Куніков” pic.twitter.com/UMPrt50sIK
— Kostiantyn ꑭ Hoholenko (@KHoholenko) February 14, 2024
“As the Russian president once said [about the “Kursk” submarine], ‘it sank’. So, we can use his words to comment on what happened to the large Russian landing ship Tsezar Kunikov. Our colleagues from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence have effectively removed yet another unnecessary asset from the Black Sea,” Pletenchuk said.
Photo: UWC’s collage
