Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

UK Defense Ministry: Olenegorskiy Gornyak is largest Russian vessel seriously damaged after sinking of Moskva cruiser

by The Kyiv Independent news desk August 5, 2023 1:36 PM 2 min read
Russia's Black Sea Fleet warships take part in the Navy Day celebrations in the port city of Novorossiysk on July 30, 2023. (Photo by Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Russian Ropucha-class landing vessel Olenegorskiy Gornyak, which was reportedly hit by a surface drone on Aug. 4, "represents the largest Russian naval vessel seriously damaged or destroyed since the sinking of the cruiser Moskva," in April last year, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry.

CNN and several Ukrainian media outlets cited unnamed sources in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), saying that the operation was a joint endeavor between the SBU and the Ukrainian Navy. According to these reports, a Ukrainian surface drone carrying 450 kilograms of explosives collided with Olenegorskiy Gornyak, causing significant damage.

In its latest update, the U.K. Defense Ministry said the Olenegorskiy Gornyak, which had been routinely assigned to the Russian Northern Fleet, "has augmented the Black Sea Fleet since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has often ferried military and civilian traffic between Russia and occupied Crimea when the Kerch Bridge has been disrupted due to attacks."

The 3,600 tonnes and 113 meter-long vessel "almost certainly suffered serious damage after being struck near the Black Sea Fleet’s Novorossiysk base," the ministry said.

"This is a significant blow to the (Russian) Black Sea Fleet, which previously relocated most of its units to Novorossiysk due to the high threat to Sevastopol," the ministry added.

In the early hours on Aug. 5, explosions were also reported near the Crimean Bridge. Moscow Times reported via its Telegram channel that the naval drone attack on the Kerch Strait could have potentially damaged the Russian SIG chemical tanker.

Following the reported attacks, the SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk made a statement effectively admitting that Ukraine was behind the attacks. He said such attacks are "absolutely logical" and "completely legal."

"Any (explosions) that happen to the Russian ships or the Crimean Bridge is an absolutely logical and effective step in relation to the enemy," Maliuk said, as quoted by the SBU Telegram channel.

"Moreover, such special operations are conducted in the territorial waters of Ukraine and are completely legal," he said.

While Kyiv does not generally claim responsibility for explosions reported on the occupied peninsula, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in late July that Ukraine will continue to attack targets in Crimea to reduce Russia's fighting capacity and "help save the lives of Ukrainians."

Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, sank on April 14, 2022. Ukraine said it had hit the ship with two R-360 Neptune anti-ship missiles, while Russia claimed the ship sank after a fire.

Moskva was the largest Russian warship to be sunk since World War II and the first Russian flagship sunk since the 1905 Russo-Japanese War.

Ukraine war latest: Overnight attack reported at Russian naval port
* Russian landing ship reported damaged in alleged Ukrainian attack on Novorossiysk * China to participate in Ukraine peace plan meeting * SBU says Russia preparing false flag operation to drag Belarus into war against Ukraine * Poland detains Belarusian suspected of spying for Russia * Donetsk…
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

8:00 AM

Trump has consulted Hungary's Orban on Ukraine war, sources tell RFE/RL.

Hungarian government sources said that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sought Viktor Orban’s opinion on strategies to end the Ukraine war. Orban, known for his close ties with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, has openly criticized EU aid for Ukraine and obstructed sanctions against Moscow.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.