One of Russia's warships in the Black Sea was damaged because of Ukraine's air strike. This was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Russia on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Before the acknowledgment, the Ukrainian government announced that it was able to destroy its enemy's Novecherkassk landing vessel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was quite pleased with what his forces achieved.
On social media, Zelenskyy jokingly said that the Noverocherkassk joined Russia's "underwater Black Sea fleet," meaning that Ukrainian soldiers sunk the warship.
Russia's Warship in Black Sea Damaged by Ukrainian Air Strike
According to BBC News' latest report, Russia acknowledged Ukraine's airstrike at Feodosiya in Crimea, which is currently occupied by Russian troops.
Kremlin officials said that the aerial counteroffensive happened early in the morning of Dec. 16. However, the Russian defense ministry didn't say that the warship was completely destroyed.
The Ministry of Defense only said that Ukrainian aircraft carrying guided missiles damaged the Novercherkassk warship. Sergei Aksyonov, the appointed Russian leader in Crimea, said that one person died because of Ukraine's air strike.
He added that numerous people were also injured. When it comes to infrastructure damages, six buildings were destroyed. Because of this, a small number of people had to be transported to temporary accommodation centers.
Russian defense officials said that the Black Sea port's transport operations are still in operation despite the deadly Ukrainian air strike.
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Ukraine Boasts Damaging Russia's Warship
Business Insider reported that Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk-the current Ukrainian Air Force commander-posted a video showing the explosion that happened in Crimea via Telegram.
The Ukrainian defense leader boasted about the achievement, saying that Russia's fleet is getting smaller and smaller.
"Thanks to the Air Force pilots and everyone involved for the filigree work," added the general.
Sources familiar with the latest deadly Ukrainian air strike said that the Novercherkassk warship was either damaged by French-manufactured SCALP-EGs or British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
They further stated that these missiles were reportedly being launched from the western part of Ukraine. Aside from this, they also claimed that Ukraine could be using its only major anti-ship platform called the "Sukhoi Su-24" bomber to launch the missiles.
After dealing damage to the Russian warship in the Black Sea, Oleshchuk warned the Russian military to leave Crimea "before it's too late."
