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Russia confirms damage to warship in Black Sea

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A Ukrainian airstrike targeted a Russian warship, the Novocherkassk, at the Black Sea port of Feodosiya in Russian-occupied Crimea, causing damage and casualties. The attack occurred early on a Tuesday morning, with the Ukrainian Air Force claiming responsibility and stating that their warplanes had successfully destroyed the ship using guided missiles. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the large landing ship was hit, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. Six buildings were damaged, and some people had to be relocated to temporary accommodation centers. The port’s transport operations were reportedly functioning normally after the area was cordoned off, and the fire caused by the attack was contained.

Footage depicting a substantial explosion at the port was shared by Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, though independent verification of the images is lacking. Satellite imagery from December 24 showed a ship at the port matching the length of the Novocherkassk. This landing ship is designed for transporting troops, weapons, and cargo to shore.

There have been previous instances of Ukrainian forces targeting the Novocherkassk. In March 2022, the ship was reportedly damaged in an attack on the occupied Ukrainian port of Berdyansk, where another amphibious assault ship, the Saratov, was sunk. Lt Gen Oleshchuk mentioned on Telegram that the Novocherkassk had met a fate similar to the Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, which sank in the Black Sea the previous year.

Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian Air Force, joking about the “impressive replenishment” of the Russian Black Sea fleet. He emphasized that occupiers would find no peaceful place in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict stems from Russia’s seizure and annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, with Russian forces based in Crimea playing a significant role in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly targeted Russian forces in Crimea, destroying and damaging multiple navy ships in the Black Sea. Last September, a missile strike on the Black Sea fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol led to the relocation of much of the Russian Black Sea fleet to Novorossiysk.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

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Viktor Sokolov: Russian video ‘shows Black Sea fleet commander alive’

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The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video featuring the commander of the Black Sea Fleet at a conference, despite Ukraine’s claim of his death. The timing of this footage, where Viktor Sokolov is seen in a video link with the defense minister, remains uncertain.

The Russian ministry stated that this meeting with high-ranking officials occurred on Tuesday. On Monday, Ukraine’s special forces announced that Admiral Sokolov and 33 other officers had been killed in a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, which is currently under Russian control.

On Wednesday, a television channel affiliated with Russia’s defense ministry aired an interview with Admiral Sokolov, where he claimed that the fleet was performing well. The exact date of this interview is unclear.

Kyiv did not directly name the admiral and lacked evidence of his death. Now, they are “clarifying” their earlier reports, referring to “open sources” for their claim about the admiral’s fate. This represents a notable shift in tone from their initial confidence.

The video, lasting eight minutes, depicts a Defense Ministry collegium meeting that purportedly took place on Tuesday morning, with Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu conversing with senior officials in Moscow. He is briefly shown on video link with the commanders of Russia’s five fleets, including the Black Sea Fleet, although none of them speak.

Facial recognition software suggests a match between the man in the video and other images of Admiral Sokolov. However, the BBC has not been able to confirm whether the meeting occurred on Tuesday or if the image of Admiral Sokolov on the video link is in real time.

Last Friday, Ukraine claimed to have targeted the fleet’s headquarters, which is considered a crucial target. Footage on social media showed smoke over the building. Russia stated that it had intercepted five missiles, though one serviceman was reported missing. Kyiv has been launching near-daily strikes against Russian forces in Crimea.

Aside from its role in potential attacks against Ukraine, the Black Sea Fleet symbolizes Russia’s long-standing military presence in the region. It was based in Crimea even before Russia’s annexation of the peninsula in 2014.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright