27 crew members wounded in the assault on Russian vessel Sergey Kotov – Sky Bulletin

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Recent updates from the Ukrainian military intelligence reveal that an explosion aboard the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov has resulted in at least 27 injuries among the crew. This event took place near the Russian-occupied Crimean territory and was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (HUR) on March 6.

Initially, there were reports of seven Russian sailors being killed and six injured, with a potential evacuation of 52 individuals who were present on the Sergey Kotov, as per the information on the previous day.

The HUR has announced on Telegram that casualty numbers are being verified, acknowledging the varying degrees of wounds suffered by over 20 crew members.

It was confirmed on March 5 that the destruction of the Project 22160 patrol ship was a consequence of an attack by Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones in the Kerch Strait.

Alleged communications intercepted by Ukraine suggested that the Russian patrol ship carried a helicopter, which Ukrainska Pravda, citing unnamed sources, reported to be a Russian Ka-29 transport and combat helicopter, also destroyed in the incident.

An anti-aircraft missile system was reportedly being prepared to be installed on the Sergey Kotov patrol ship, disclosed HUR spokesperson Andrii Yusov.

The Sergey Kotov’s damage is just one instance of several reported incidents of Ukrainian forces targeting Russian vessels. On February 14, the Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov was reportedly sunk after an attack by Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea.

Since the onset of the conflict, Ukrainian forces have notably impacted Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, including sinking the Moskva cruiser in April 2022 and executing a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in Crimea, which allegedly resulted in over 30 officer deaths.

FAQ about the Sergey Kotov vessel incident

  1. What caused the explosions on the Sergey Kotov?
    The explosions were the result of an attack by Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones.
  2. Did the Sergey Kotov have any aircraft onboard?
    Yes, it’s reported that a Russian Ka-29 transport and combat helicopter was on the Sergey Kotov and was destroyed.
  3. What was the Sergey Kotov’s role in the Russian fleet?
    It was a patrol ship, and there were plans to equip it with an anti-aircraft missile system.
  4. How many crew members were on the Sergey Kotov?
    Initial reports suggested that there were 52 crew members on board at the time of the incident.
  5. Have other Russian ships been targeted by Ukrainian forces?
    Yes, including the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva and an attack on the Caesar Kunikov landing ship.

Conclusion

The devastating strike on the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov marked yet another strategic attack by Ukrainian forces on Russia’s naval capabilities in the Black Sea. With significant crew injuries and the loss of both a patrol ship and combat helicopter, the incident underscores the ongoing intensive conflict between Ukrainian and Russian forces. It also highlights the effectiveness of Ukrainian drone warfare in sea operations, a factor that continues to affect the balance in the maritime domain of the war.

Note: The information in this article was sourced from The Kyiv Independent and other internet resources, utilizing AI news feed technology for content rewriting. TheUBJ does not claim ownership or original authorship of the news. The initial report can be found at the provided link for reference.



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