Russian warship damaged in 'significant blow' to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, MOD says

A Russian Navy landing ship was likely to have been damaged after being struck near the Black Sea Fleet's (BSF) base in mainland Russia, according to the latest Ministry of Defence intelligence update.

The MOD reported that the Russian Navy Landing Ship Olenegorsky Gornyak "almost certainly suffered serious damage" at a naval base in Novorossiysk overnight on Friday.

According to the MOD update, this is "a significant blow" to the BSF, which previously relocated most of its units to Novorossiysk due to the high threat to its Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea.

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Footage released by Ukraine appears to show a drone boat attacking a Russian warship in the Black Sea, reportedly leaving it seriously damaged.

Russia denied the vessel was struck, claiming the drone boat was intercepted, however, according to the MOD, images of the vessel listing at 30-40° suggest that several watertight compartments were breached, or that the crew's damage control efforts were ineffectual.

Regularly deployed with Russia's Northern Fleet, the 113m-long Olenegorsky Gornyak has provided vital support to the BSF following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The vessel has frequently facilitated the transportation of military personnel and civilian resources between Russia and occupied Crimea, particularly during times when the Kerch Bridge, connecting the occupied peninsula to mainland Russia, has been subjected to disruptions caused by attacks.

The 3,600-tonne ship represents the largest Russian naval vessel seriously damaged or destroyed since the sinking of the cruiser Moskva on 13 April 2022.

The incident follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that "war is returning to Russia" after recent drone strikes on Moscow.

In a recent interview with Forces News, a former British Army General said Ukraine no longer regards Russia "as a sanctuary" in Moscow's military effort, indicating a potential "decisive turning point" in the war.

"The war has long touched Russian territory in terms of sanctions, the previous acts, including drones, casualties and the general shattering effect on the Russian economy," General Sir Richard Barrons told Forces News. 

"What is new is the idea that Ukraine doesn't regard Russia as a sanctuary for the Russian military effort, but it also indicates that this war is coming to one of its decisive, or potentially at least, turning points," Gen Barrons said.

Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking naval vessels with unmanned boats a number of times in recent months.