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Ukraine says it has destroyed a Russian minesweeper in the Black Sea.
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The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine celebrated the loss of the Kovrovets minesweeper on X.
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Ukraine claims to have destroyed or disabled a third of Russian ships in the Black Sea during the war.
Ukrainian forces destroyed the Russian naval minesweeper Kovrovets, the Ukrainian Navy reported on Telegram.
“The naval forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with their comrades, continue to bring us closer to victory,” the Ukrainian Navy wrote on its Telegram channel.
No information on where the attack took place or what weapons were used to direct the attack Kovrovets, but Ukraine has had remarkable success in harassing the Russian fleet exploding drone boats.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine contacted X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the latest loss of the Russian Navy.
Another bad day for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Overnight, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a Russian minesweeper Project 266M “Kovrovets”.
Great job, warriors! pic.twitter.com/ol4reKtuN6— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 19, 2024
The Kovrovets, a Project 266M Natya-class minesweeper, was used for minesweeping operations, reconnaissance and control sweeps, Euromaidan Press reported. It was also deployed off the coast of Syria.
The Soviet-era minesweepers were built in the 1970s and 1980s and had a crew of 68.
In March, the Ukrainian Navy told AP News that Ukraine had destroyed or disabled a third of all Russian warships stationed in the Black Sea before the war.
The latest sinking of a Russian warship follows Friday’s attacks on Novorossiysk. The Russian port has become an important base for the Black Sea Fleet after repeated attacks on its traditional base in Crimea.
It appears that the attack on Novorossiysk was part of Ukraine’s largest ever drone strike.
Satellite images from April indicate that Russia was strengthening defenses for its Black Sea Fleet naval base in Novorossiysk.
However, Novorossiysk was hit by Ukrainian missiles and drones this weekend.
As Ukraine maintains pressure on Russia in Crimea and the Black Sea region, its forces are struggling to fend off Russian advances along the eastern front, especially near Kharkov.
Despite the progress made by Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is not experiencing a shortage of artillery shells for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Read the original article on Business Insider
