A small Russian warship operating near the coast of Crimea sank as a result of repeated strikes from Ukraine’s burgeoning drone fleet, according to Ukrainian defense officials.
“As a result of a number of direct hits the Russian ship sustained damage incompatible with further movement,” Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate said. “The cost of the ship lost by the aggressor state is approximately $60-70 million dollars.”
That announcement was accompanied by a video that appeared to show footage from unmanned sea drones striking a vessel, which Ukrainian officials identified as the Ivanovets, a missile corvette. The attack continues a pattern of Ukrainian efforts to decimate the Russian Black Sea Fleet and threaten Crimea, the strategically vital peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014 at the outset of the war.
“We can systematically and regularly inflict strikes, diminishing their combat capability − this is possible now because we have certain tools,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat told Radio Liberty, per a Ukrainian media translation. “Of course, we need more. We need more means of attack, and as such, we would like our partners to deliver aircraft to us sooner.”
Russia has sustained several high-profile losses in Crimea in recent months, courtesy of relatively long-range missiles provided by Western powers. Ukrainian pilots used Storm Shadow missiles provided by the British and French to destroy a submarine and landing ship in Crimean docks in September, for instance. They also used U.S.-provided missiles known as ATACMS to strike an air base in Berdyansk, another part of occupied Ukraine, and destroy several Russian attack helicopters.
“Ukrainian aviators will definitely return home to their native airfield,” Ukrainian air force Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk said Wednesday after a missile barrage at bases in Crimea. “And now I thank everyone who joined the cleansing of Crimea from the Russian presence.”
The long-range strikes in Crimea should play a key role in Ukrainian efforts to displace the occupying Russian forces, according to Western analysts. Political disagreements in the United States and Europe have called into question the degree to which the United States and its allies will sustain Ukraine’s war effort, but the European Union orchestrated a breakthrough agreement to provide 50 billion euros of funding for Ukraine, after EU leaders persuaded Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to drop his veto of the aid.
“For almost two years now, Ukraine has been fighting for the security of all of Europe and needs our support not only today but in the long term,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said Thursday. “Today’s decision shows that we are prepared to offer this support together, because supporting Ukraine is a strategic interest and priority of the EU.”
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European officials reportedly hope that their authorization of that package will help to ease a breakthrough in Washington, D.C., where the perception that Europe is lagging behind the U.S. has contributed to an impasse between President Joe Biden and congressional Republicans.
“We would like to disable more of the occupiers’ aviation-related equipment,” added Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force spokesman. “Russian presence in Crimea is decreasing, and has been since before the attack. Our tactical aircraft pilots are clearing enemy forces out of Crimea using guided missiles provided to us by our partners.”