Ukrainian Navy Claims Successful Strike on Russian Missile Ship and Minesweeper in Sevastopol
Kyiv, Ukraine - The Ukrainian Navy has announced that it likely inflicted serious damage or sunk two Russian vessels, including the Black Sea Fleet's last missile carrier, during a strike on the bay of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday, May 19.
Russian Kovrovets minesweeper. Photo c/o: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine X/@DefenceU
According to Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's navy, the Ukrainian attack "likely" severely damaged or sunk both the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets and the corvette Cyclone, also known as Tsiklon. Pletenchuk made these statements in an interview with Radio Svoboda, the Russian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on Monday.
Pletenchuk emphasized the significance of the strike, stating, "There is a fairly high probability that there is now not a single carrier of cruise missiles in Crimea, if the information about the Cyclone is confirmed. And yes, there is such a probability. And yes, it is high."
The Tsiklon, a Karakurt-class corvette, was hastily commissioned into the Russian Black Sea Fleet in July 2023, despite a troubled past. According to Pletenchuk, the vessel had failed routine tests on two separate occasions in 2021 and 2022. However, Moscow chose to overlook these shortcomings and pressed the Tsiklon into service. "They need a picture that they have launched something, revived something, replenished their fleet," he stated, implying that the Tsiklon's commissioning was more about optics than operational readiness.
The successful targeting of these Russian vessels is a notable achievement for the Ukrainian military, as it demonstrates their ability to strike critical assets in Russian-controlled territory. The loss of the Tsiklon, if confirmed, would be a significant blow to the Russian Black Sea Fleet's offensive capabilities.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the incident, and the extent of the damage to the vessels remains unclear. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of abating.
The Ukrainian government has consistently condemned the Russian presence in Crimea since the annexation of the peninsula in 2014, maintaining that the move was illegal and violated international law. The targeting of Russian military assets in Sevastopol underscores Ukraine's determination to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.