Russian assault ship “Caesar Kunikov” sinks in Black Sea after Ukrainian drone attack

Ukrainian drones struck a large Russian landing ship named "Caesar Kunikov" in the Black Sea on the morning of February 14. 

Sources familiar with the matter told the Ukrainian Pravda that the operation was carried out by the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, resulting in the sinking of the Ropucha-class landing ship.

The Ukrainian Pravda has requested official comments on this matter.

The press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the striket. "The Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with units of the Defense Intelligence, destroyed a large Russian landing ship — Caesar Kunikov. At the time of the strike, it was in the territorial waters of Ukraine — near Alupka," the message said.

In turn, intelligence reported that the "Group 13" special forces of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence carried out the successful mission.

The special operation became possible with the support of the United24 fundraising platform.

"The enemy ship was attacked by the Magura V5 strike sea drones near the shores of the temporarily occupied Crimea near the city of Alupka. As a result, the Caesar Kunikov received critical breaches on the port side and began to sink. Symbolically, the Russian officer, in whose name the ship was named, was killed exactly 81 years ago," said the Defense Intelligence.

What happened early in the morning in Crimea in the Black Sea waters

Explosions were heard earlier in the morning on February 14 in the occupied Crimea. They were heard in Yalta, Alupka, and Mishor, with flashes preceding the explosions in the sea, the  "Crimean Wind" media reported.

According to their data, the cause could have been an attack on a Russian ship, prompting Russian forces to rush to its rescue.

Locals claim they initially saw flashes in the sea, followed by the sounds of explosions. They were so powerful that the shockwave rattled windows in Alupka.

One "Crimean Wind" subscriber in Yalta reported hearing alarms on the Russian ship. There were also reports of machine gun fire heard from the sea.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on February 14, their air defense supposedly destroyed six drones in the Black Sea waters.

At the same time, information appeared on Telegram channels that something was burning in the area of Alupka-Katsiveli in the sea. It was also reported that two Mi-8 helicopters were circling low over the water in this area.

The "Crimean Wind" Telegram channel wrote that drones allegedly targeted a large landing ship in the area. A search and rescue helicopter, Ka-27, was spotted in the area of Foros.

According to the website of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the "Caesar Kunikov" is a Ropucha-class large landing ship armed with 2×2 57-mm AK-725 artillery mounts, 4×8 MANPADS launchers, 2×30 122-mm A-215 Grad-M rocket launchers. The crew consists of 87 people. The vessel can also be used for laying minefields. 

What we know about the destruction of Russian ships by Ukrainian Forces

Ukrainian defenders have already carried out dozens of operations on the peninsula and in the Black Sea, destroying Russian bases, warehouses, and ships.

In October 2022, Ukrainian Security Service maritime drones attacked ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay, damaging the frigate "Admiral Makarov" among others.

Overall, in 2023, Ukrainian drones damaged:

• the missile cruiser "Samum,"
• the missile cruiser "Pavel Derzhavin,"
• the tanker SIG,
• the landing ship "Olenegorsky Gornyak,"
• damaged the tugboat "Nikolay Mur,"
• the advanced reconnaissance-hydrographic ship "Vladimir Kozitsky."

On December 26, 2023, Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked the large landing ship "Novocherkassk" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the area of Feodosia.

Also, Ukrainian intelligence destroyed the missile boat "Ivanovets" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet overnight on February 1. Its approximate value is $60-70 million.

As a result of a series of direct hits to the hull, the Russian ship suffered damages that were incompatible with further movement. Thus, the "Ivanovets" listed aft and sank.