Ukraine reports successful naval drone attack on Russian ship in Crimea

A special forces unit from Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) carried out a successful naval drone attack on the Sergey Kotov patrol ship from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on Monday night, the GUR reported on Telegram.

The agency said the attack destroyed the ship, damaging its stern as well as its left and right sides, and that the operation occurred near the Kerch Strait. The GUR did not mention the ship’s crew.

Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president's office, wrote on social media Tuesday morning that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is a “symbol of occupation” and that it “cannot be in Ukrainian Crimea.”

Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels shared a video that purportedly shows the attack. The footage’s authenticity has not been verified.

The Russian authorities have not commented on the attack.

The Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to the Crimean Peninsula, was closed to vehicular traffic for most of Monday night and temporarily closed for railroad traffic on Tuesday morning.