Ukraine Claims its Sea Drones Sank a Russian Corvette Ship in the Black Sea

Defense News ,Ukraine & Russia War :- In a recent development, Ukraine asserted its use of sea drones in sinking a Russian corvette in the Black Sea. Simultaneously, Russian investigators countered with allegations that a military transport plane crash last month was caused by two US-made Patriot missiles fired by Kyiv's forces. Ukraine's military intelligence agency, GUR, released a video on social media, claiming it depicted naval drones assaulting the Russian missile-armed cutter Ivanovets. The footage purportedly shows multiple drones crashing into the vessel and exploding. The incident reportedly occurred during the ship's patrol on Lake Donuzlav in western Crimea, with a GUR special unit carrying out the strike.

Although the footage and claims have been presented, the ongoing disinformation in the two-year-long conflict makes independent verification challenging. Ambrey, a private security firm, reported that Ukraine employed up to six sea drones, each carrying approximately 300 kg (661 pounds) of explosives in the attack. The footage released by GUR indicates the sinking of the ship, valued between $60-$70 million. Russian officials have not immediately commented on the incident.

The conflict's disinformation tactics continue, with the war entering its second anniversary on Feb 24. Ukrainian attacks on Russian aircraft and ships in the Black Sea have reportedly pushed Moscow's naval forces back, allowing Kyiv to increase crucial exports through southern ports. Ambrey raised concerns that any unexploded drones could pose a threat to Black Sea shipping.

Meanwhile, the front line in eastern and southern Ukraine remains active, resulting in continued civilian casualties. In the Donetsk region, the Russian army shelled 11 towns and villages, leading to one fatality in the village of Tsukuryne and two injuries in Toretsk during a rocket attack. In the Kherson region, six civilians were wounded, including a husband and wife in Beryslav hit by a drone attack while riding a motorcycle through the city.