Key highlights:
- According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, on March 5th, Tuesday, a special operations unit known as Group 13 successfully eliminated the Sergei Kotov using advanced drones.
- As per the military intelligence agency’s report, 7 Russian crew members perished, 6 suffered injuries, and 52 were effectively rescued.
- The latest iteration, the Magura V5, measures 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length, weighs up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), and boasts a range of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles).
- These strikes have compelled the Russian navy to implement precautionary measures that have disrupted its operations, including the relocation of some ships from ports in Crimea further east to Novorossiysk for enhanced protection.
In a notable escalation of the ongoing maritime conflict in the Black Sea, Ukraine has asserted another decisive blow against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The recent target was the Russian patrol ship 22160 Sergei Kotov, which met its end near the annexed Crimean Peninsula.
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According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, on March 5th, Tuesday, a special operations unit known as Group 13 successfully eliminated the Sergei Kotov using advanced drones. The ship, commissioned in 2021, was struck near the Kerch Strait, a vital water passage connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
Following the strike by Magura V5 maritime drones, the Sergei Kotov sustained severe damage to its stern, starboard, and port sides, igniting a fire onboard. The military later confirmed the ship had sunk. As per the military intelligence agency’s report, 7 Russian crew members perished, 6 suffered injuries, and 52 were effectively rescued.
The Sergei Kotov was no ordinary vessel; capable of carrying cruise missiles and accommodating around 60 crew members, its sinking represents a notable setback for Moscow, despite Russia’s possession of numerous other vessels. While it wasn’t the first time Ukraine had targeted the ship, valued at $65 million, this overnight strike inflicted critical damage.
The attack on Sergei Kotov emphasizes Ukraine’s resolve to disrupt Russian naval operations. However, the question remains: How did they accomplish this remarkable feat?
Magura Drones Shake Russian Strongholds
The recent strike would represent the most recent successful deployment of Ukraine’s domestically developed Magura drones, the nimble unmanned vessels that have emerged as formidable adversaries to the Russian navy.
In the previous month alone, these drones were credited with sinking Russia’s Caesar Kunikov amphibious landing ship and Ivanovets missile corvette. Ukraine’s strategic use of remote-controlled drone boats, armed with explosives, has enabled it to shift the balance of naval warfare in its favor despite Russia’s significant firepower advantage.
The latest iteration, the Magura V5, measures 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length, weighs up to 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds), and boasts a range of up to 800 kilometers (500 miles). It can operate for 60 hours on a single battery charge and carry a payload of up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds), while providing live video feeds to operators, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Furthermore, Ukraine has leveraged cruise missiles supplied by the UK and France to target Russian assets in Crimea. These missiles, jointly produced by Britain and France and known as Storm Shadow in the UK and SCALP-EG in France, are launched from Ukraine’s Soviet-era warplanes and possess a range exceeding 250 kilometers (155 miles).
Western officials have commended the efficacy of Ukrainian strikes, noting that Kyiv has judiciously utilized its limited resources to repel much stronger Russian forces and neutralize approximately 20% of the Black Sea fleet, thereby significantly diminishing Moscow’s naval superiority.
The Bigger Picture
Amidst the reverberations of Sergey Kotov’s passing, it’s imperative to grasp the broader context. Kyiv’s forces are entrenched in an unyielding struggle against the well-equipped Russian army along the extensive 1,500-kilometer front line. Concurrently, they are pursuing objectives that transcend mere battlefield engagements, targeting Russian assets deep within their territory.
In a recent incident late in December 2023, Ukraine reported the destruction of the Novocherkassk landing vessel in the port of Feodosia, Crimea, using long-range cruise missiles.
Moreover, the Ukrainian military has initiated a series of relentless cruise missile and drone attacks on Russian radar facilities, air defense assets, and air bases in Crimea, a region annexed by Russia in 2014. Adding to Moscow’s woes, Ukrainian forces downed 2 Russian early warning and control aircraft over the Sea of Azov in January and February, thereby depriving the Russian military of crucial intelligence-gathering assets.
These strikes are part of a broader pattern of highly effective Ukrainian assaults witnessed earlier in the conflict, such as the sinking of the Black Sea fleet’s flagship missile cruiser, the Moskva, in April 2022, and a missile strike on the fleet’s headquarters in the port of Sevastopol last September.
Ukraine’s Successful Attacks against Russia
- 2014: Annexation of Crimea
- April 2022: Sinking of the Moskva
- September 2023: Missile Strike on Sevastopol
- Late December 2023: Destruction of Novocherkassk Landing Vessel
- January and February 2024: Downing of Russian Aircraft
- Ukrainian forces down two Russian early warning and control aircraft over the Sea of Azov, depriving the Russian military of crucial intelligence-gathering assets.
Russia’s Take on the Attack
Although the Russian Defense Ministry has largely refrained from public commentary on the Ukrainian drone and missile attacks targeting its naval assets, Russian military bloggers and commentators have vociferously criticized the military leadership for its sluggish and inadequate response to the threat.
These strikes have compelled the Russian navy to implement precautionary measures that have disrupted its operations, including the relocation of some ships from ports in Crimea further east to Novorossiysk for enhanced protection.
Despite the setbacks caused by Ukrainian attacks, the Black Sea fleet remains a formidable force, retaining the capacity to execute long-range cruise missile strikes against Ukraine. Additionally, Russian air bases in Crimea have maintained operational status, housing warplanes that continue to conduct combat sorties in support of ground operations in the region.
In a nutshell, Ukraine’s strategic and technological advancements have reshaped the dynamics of the Black Sea conflict, challenging Russia’s naval superiority and disrupting its military assets. The ongoing struggle represents a military confrontation and a demonstration of Ukraine’s pliability and ingenuity in the face of a formidable adversary.
