In a dramatic turn of events, Ukraine has asserted that it has successfully sunk another Russian warship in a daring attack carried out by a kamikaze sea drone. Astonishing footage has emerged, capturing the intense moment of the assault on the £55 million Black Sea missile ship known as Ivanovets.

The 184-foot warship fell victim to a series of drone strikes in the waters off annexed Crimea, leaving the fate of the crew shrouded in uncertainty. The Telegram channel Military Informant shared details of the incident, stating, ‘As a result of a number of direct hits to the hull, the Russian ship received damage that was incompatible with further movement – the Ivanovets tilted to the stern and sank.’ Notably, the warship was located in the sea lake Donuzlav, a bay in the western region of Crimea, often utilised for military vessels.

While Russian authorities have yet to officially confirm the attack, pro-Putin war Telegram channels have already acknowledged it. Multiple drones are believed to have executed the assault from the sea near Odessa, as part of an operation led by Group 13, the special forces of Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency.

If the sinking of the Ivanovets is indeed confirmed, it will mark the latest addition to a growing list of Russian warships lost, which includes the Moskva cruiser. The Moskva, a flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, met its demise due to Neptune missiles in April 2022. Notably, Vladimir Putin has not provided an accurate account of the losses incurred with the sinking of the Moskva.

In recent times, several large landing ships have also suffered a similar fate, with the most recent incident involving the Novocherkassk, which was struck on December 26, 2023. These developments continue to add to the escalating tensions in the region.