The Sergey Kotov was hit and destroyed during a night attack orchestrated by Ukrainian military intelligence services.
A Russian fleet patrol ship in the Black Sea, the Sergey Kotov, was hit and destroyed in a nighttime attack orchestrated by Ukrainian military intelligence, the agency said.
Reports of a suspected attack emerged after overnight explosions in which the Kerch Bridge was closed. The Russian Defense Ministry said 38 drones were destroyed over Crimea.
The Sergey Kotov was apparently near the Kerch Strait when it was attacked by domestically produced Magura V5 naval drones.
According to SpetsTechnoExport – Ukrainian state-owned foreign trade enterprise – measuring 5.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, it has a cruising speed of 40.7 kilometers per hour, a maximum speed of 77.8 kilometers per hour and a range of approximately 833 kilometers. This maritime drone has a carrying capacity of 320 kg of explosives.
The Sergey Kotov was previously reported to have been hit by naval drones, along with another patrol ship, the Vasiliy Bykov, in September 2023. These ships can perform various tasks at sea, including surveillance of strong points. It could carry cruise missiles and a crew of around 60 people.
Last month, Ukraine claimed to have twice sunk Russian warships using drones.
