Ukraine Targets Russian Naval Port With Cruise Missiles, Damages Two Ships Including Advanced Kilo Class Submarine 'Rostov-on-Don'

In yet another blow to Russian naval infrastructure, Ukraine has once again struck the Russian naval base in Sevastopol, Crimea.

This attack follows a series of attacks by the Ukrainian military on Russian naval facilities in the Black Sea region

This attack on the Sevastopol naval base, however, is the most significant till date for the Russian Navy. Ukrainian military intelligence states that the attack damaged an advanced Russian Kilo 636.3 class submarine, most likely the 'Rostov-on-Don'.

Additionally, Ukrainian media claims that another Ropucha-class landing ship named 'Minsk,' used for troop transport, has also been damaged.

This attack carries substantial implications for the morale of Russian forces in the region.

The damage to the 'Rostov-on-Don' submarine is particularly significant, as it is one of the five advanced Kilo-class submarines in the Russian Black Sea Fleet, capable of launching long-range Kalibr cruise missiles.

Reportedly, both the troop carrier and the submarine were in dry dock undergoing maintenance at the time of the attack.

According to British media organization Sky News, the attack was carried out using Storm Shadow missiles provided by the British as part of a weapons aid package to Ukraine.

Some reports, citing Ukrainian intelligence officials, suggest that both the 'Minsk' troop carrier and the 'Rostov-on-Don' submarine may be damaged beyond repair.

A version of the Storm Shadow missile known as SCALP-EG is also in operation by the Indian Air Force, as well.

The SCALP-EG missiles are a French-specific variant of the Storm Shadow missile produced by the European weapons manufacturer MBDA.

These missiles were acquired from France as part of the weapons package included in the 36 Rafale fighter jet deal signed in 2016.

While the exact range of the missile is undisclosed, it is estimated to be capable of targeting high-value objectives from distances ranging between 300 to 500 kilometers.

The Russian Defence Ministry states that the Ukrainian's attacked the Black Sea naval shipyard with 10 cruise missiles and three uncrewed speedboats in the early hours, damaging two military vessels that had been undergoing repairs.

Last month, the Ukrainians also targeted another Russian naval port in Novorossoysk, Krasnodar.

In the attack (on 4 August) another Ropucha class landing ship 'Olenegorskiy Gornyak' was destroyed. The attack was reportedly conducted using kamikaze unmanned surface vessels (USV).

The Ukrainians have increasingly employed low-cost explosive-laden unmanned vessels to target high-value and expensive assets such as ships, bridges, and submarines.

A month before the Krasnodar attack (in July) the Ukrainian's also struck the Kerch rail-road bridge connecting Russian mainland to Crimea reportedly using British-made REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).

(Also Read: What Are British REMUS 600 Autonomous Underwater Drones, Rumoured To Have Struck Russia's Crimea Bridge Again)