Only five of 13 Russian Black Sea Fleet ships remain in service – Ukrainian Navy

The Russian Black Sea Fleet has only five out of 13 ships remaining "in service" following the destruction of the large Russian landing ship "Caesar Kunikov." 

Rubryka reports, citing the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

"As the President of the Russian Federation once said, 'she sank' (referring to Putin's words about the Russian submarine 'Kursk,' which sank in 2000 in the Barents Sea with 118 crew members)," Pletenchuk commented on the sinking of the landing ship "Caesar Kunikov."

"Colleagues from the Defense Intelligence once again successfully targeted another unnecessary object in the Black Sea," the spokesperson said.

The navy chief also reacted to the fact that the ship was destroyed on the day of the death of the Soviet officer Caesar Kunikov, in honor of whom the vessel was named.

"Perhaps it's bad luck. Not every Caesar manages to die twice in one day," Pletenchuk quipped.

Earlier, Rubryka reported that Ukrainian drones struck the Russian assault ship "Caesar Kunikov" in the Black Sea on the morning of February 14.

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.