Ukraine Asserts Destruction of Significant Russian Navy Vessel in Crimea

Ukraine’s air force asserted, without presenting evidence, that its pilots executed an attack on Feodosia around 02:30 am (0030 GMT) with cruise missiles, destroying a major Russian landing ship stationed in Crimean waters. The commander of Ukraine’s air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, expressed gratitude for the operation on the Telegram messaging app but did not provide evidence.

In a separate statement, Ukraine’s air force, again without evidence, claimed that their pilots targeted Feodosia with cruise missiles, destroying the Novocherkassk vessel of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The report could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate response from Russia. The type and quantity of missiles used by Ukraine were not disclosed.

Earlier, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed governor of Crimea, reported that the Ukrainian attack led to a fire in the port area of Feodosia, which was swiftly contained. Emergency services were reportedly on-site, and residents of some houses were being evacuated, according to Aksyonov’s statement on Telegram.

The Russian-installed administration of Crimea announced a temporary halt to train departures from Feodosia due to “technical reasons” and partial street traffic blockage in the town. Feodosia, with a population of approximately 69,000, is situated on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula.

Footage from Russian news outlets on Telegram displayed intense explosions and fires in the port area. It’s important to note that both Russia and Ukraine have a history of exaggerating enemy losses while downplaying their own casualties and equipment losses during the ongoing 22-month-long conflict.