In a span of twenty four hours, Ukrainian forces have damaged two Russian ships in the Black Sea, letting Russian war criminal Putin know that Ukraine is challenging Russia's dominance there. Using sea drones, which are remotely guided and packed with up to 1,000 pounds of high explosives, Ukraine has managed again to pierce the defenses of Russian ships. The most famous example occurred shortly after Russia's invasion when Ukraine sank its Black Sea fleet flagship Moskva, handing the Kremlin a humiliating loss.
According to the linked Associated Press report:
"An official with Ukraine’s Security Service confirmed to The Associated Press that the service was behind the attack on the tanker, which was transporting fuel for Russian forces. A sea drone, filled with 450 kilograms (992 pounds) of TNT, was used for the attack, added the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to give official statements. [snip]
The attack briefly halted traffic on the Kerch Bridge, as well as ferry transport.
Tugboats were deployed to assist the tanker, which is under United States sanctions for helping provide jet fuel to Russian forces fighting in Syria, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
Ukraine’s earlier strike on Novorossiysk halted maritime traffic for a few hours and marked the first time a commercial Russian port has been targeted in the nearly 18-month-old conflict. The port has a naval base, shipbuilding yards and an oil terminal, and is key for exports. It lies about 110 kilometers (about 60 miles) east of Crimea." (our emphasis)
Russia has been striking port facilities and grain handling structures on the Black Sea coast of Ukraine, intending to damage Ukraine's ability to ship grain and other agricultural products to other countries, in particular those in Africa. As grain prices go up, Russia profits from its own grain sales, profits which are used to fund its criminal war against Ukraine. It's hoped that as Ukraine is able to damage Russian ships in the Black Sea, pressure will build on the Kremlin to allow Ukraine's grain shipments.
(photo: View from the attacking sea drone about to hit Russian tanker/ AP)
