A high-speed USV struck the Ukrainian navy's medium reconnaissance ship Simferopol at the mouth of the Danube River on 28/8. "The attack resulted in the sinking of the vessel," the Russian Ministry of Defense stated.
This attack marks the first time Russia has used a USV to target a Ukrainian navy ship.
The Russian military later released a video of the attack, taken from thermal cameras on the USV and a reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The video shows the Russian USV approaching the Ukrainian reconnaissance ship from behind, then accelerating and ramming the ship's starboard side.
Some Ukrainian sailors appeared to only notice the USV when it was very close and hastily tried to escape. High-definition images were transmitted until the moment of impact, demonstrating the USV's ability to maintain communication. The Russian reconnaissance UAV then recorded a large burst of flames on the river and the fire following the attack.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not provide information about the USV or its deployment location. US military news website War Zone assessed that Russian forces may have launched the USV from the Crimean Peninsula, more than 200 km east of the Danube River mouth, or from a naval vessel operating in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed that Russia attacked a Ukrainian naval vessel, resulting in one sailor's death and several injuries.
The Ukrainian official did not disclose the name or condition of the ship, nor the time or location of the attack. "Response efforts are underway. Most of the sailors are safe. Rescue forces are still searching for some missing persons," Pletenchuk said.
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The Simferopol sailing along the coast of Odessa in 8/2021. Photo: Ukrinform |
The Simferopol is a Laguna-class medium reconnaissance ship belonging to Ukraine. The ship was launched in 2019 and commissioned into the Ukrainian navy two years later. With a full load displacement of over 3,500 tons, it is one of Ukraine's largest naval vessels.
The ship is equipped with various radio intelligence systems and has radar and optical sensor reconnaissance capabilities. The Simferopol has a crew of 29 and is fitted with a 30 mm AK-306 rotary cannon for self-defense.
Nhu Tam (According to Zvezda, Kyiv Independent)
