Ukraine has fired an anti-ship missile at Russia’s Black Sea fleet base in Crimea, as part of its ongoing efforts to target Russian vessels in the region. This attack comes amidst Ukraine’s vow to reclaim Crimea, which has been under Russian control for a decade. The strikes on Russia’s Black Sea fleet have been successful, with Ukraine estimating that Moscow has lost around a third of its fleet due to the attacks. The Neptune anti-ship missiles deployed by Ukraine have been credited with sinking Russia’s flagship vessel, the Moskva, in April 2022.
In response to Ukraine’s attacks on its Black Sea fleet, Russia has reportedly moved many of its vessels from Sevastopol to the Black Sea fleet base at Novorossiysk in Russia’s Krasnodar region. The Kremlin is also said to be establishing another Black Sea base in Abkhazia, further moving its resources out of Ukraine’s reach. Despite sustaining significant losses in the Black Sea, Russia’s overall naval force remains strong, with Russian naval activity at a peak worldwide, according to General Christopher Cavoli of the America’s European command.
Reports suggest that Russia is taking measures to enhance the protection around its fleet in the Black Sea, including the use of decoys and false silhouettes to deter Ukrainian drone and missile strikes. Moscow has also announced plans to equip its fleet with large-caliber machine guns to intercept incoming naval drones before they can strike Russian vessels. The Defense Ministry of Russia stated that these additions would increase the survivability of ships and vessels, along with new training programs to repel potential terrorist attacks.
The Ukrainian navy has not directly confirmed the attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet base but has indicated that explosions at military facilities in Crimea will continue. Ukraine has targeted several vessels of Russia’s Black Sea fleet since the beginning of the year, including landing ships, a reconnaissance vessel, a corvette, and a patrol ship. These attacks are part of Ukraine’s broader war efforts against Russia, which have included successful strikes on Russian vessels using a combination of naval drones and missiles.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea region remains ongoing, with Ukraine continuing its efforts to target Russia’s Black Sea fleet. The use of anti-ship missiles and drones has been a key tactic in Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia, resulting in significant losses for the Russian fleet. The situation is complex, with both sides taking measures to enhance their defenses and continue the conflict in the region. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows no signs of abating.
