Ukraine Reports Destruction of 2 Russian Military Boats in Crimea Attack

Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence service made headlines on Thursday after announcing that its forces had successfully used naval drones to destroy two Russian patrol boats off the coast of Moscow-annexed Crimea. The GUR revealed that its Group 13 special forces unit carried out the attack on the boats of the “aggressor state of Russia” in the temporarily occupied region.

According to the GUR’s statement on Telegram, the Ukrainian naval drones were able to target and destroy the Russian boats despite facing retaliation from fighter planes, helicopters, and small arms fire from the Russian forces. The video footage released by the GUR showed a helicopter firing into the water and bright flashes of fire, but the Ukrainians were able to complete their mission and destroy the Russian vessels.

The GUR reported that the two boats destroyed were identified as high-speed amphibious vessels of the KS-701 Tunets type, commonly used for coastal patrols by the Russian military. The video footage captured by the drone showcased the moment of impact as the boats were targeted and the subsequent explosion that sent a plume of smoke into the air.

In response to the Ukrainian attack, Russia claimed to have destroyed two Ukrainian naval drones that were allegedly heading towards Crimea, as well as intercepting 13 aerial drones in the Krasnodar region and over the Black Sea. The Russian Defense Ministry also reported shooting down eight tactical ATACMS missiles over the Sea of Azov.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated in recent years, with Ukraine taking the fight to Russian soil in retaliation for ongoing bombardments. Russia’s FSB security service announced that it had thwarted a series of sabotage attacks planned by Ukrainian special services on railway lines in Crimea, leading to the detention of four local residents recruited by Ukraine.

The tension between the two countries shows no signs of easing, with both sides continuing to engage in military actions and counterattacks. The use of naval drones in this latest incident highlights the evolving tactics and technologies being employed in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.