Moscow claims it successfully repelled Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea and a Black Sea naval base but Kyiv says the attack seriously damaged a Russian warship.
Topline
Ukrainian drones targeted Crimea and a nearby Black Sea naval base on Friday, according to Russia’s defense ministry, reportedly putting a Russian warship out of action amid intensifying maritime conflict following Moscow’s withdrawal from the United Nations-brokered grain deal last month.Key Facts
Russia’s defense ministry said it repelled Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea and the Novorossiysk naval base on the Black Sea.
Moscow said two unmanned drones were spotted and destroyed by Russian ships guarding the naval base and that 13 drones were downed over the Crimean peninsula, adding that there were no casualties or damage in either attack.
Ukraine, which does not normally take public responsibility for military strikes, has disputed Moscow’s assertion and claimed one of its sea drones seriously damaged a Russian warship, according to Reuters and CNN.
The ship, believed to be the Russian landing vessel Olenegorsky Gornyak, has reportedly been taken out of action by the attack and is unable to carry out combat missions.
