Ukrainian forces have successfully sunk the Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea using 5 Magura V5 naval drones, marking a significant blow to Russia's naval capabilities in the region. The attack, which took place overnight, involved multiple hits by the drones, leading to the ship's quick capsizing and sinking. The Caesar Kunikov, carrying a crew of 87, was transporting cargo from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol and was part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. This event is part of Ukraine's ongoing naval campaign against Russian naval assets in the Black Sea. Following the sinking, Russian media reports indicate that Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has been removed from his post. Ukraine's strategic use of naval drones in this operation underscores the growing importance of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in modern naval warfare.
Ukraine seizes "maritime momentum" from Russia with sinking of warship: UK https://t.co/iXW5tu76xW https://t.co/HLNG6ziEmF
YOU'RE FIRED-- IF YOU'RE NOT DEAD: RU media reports Viktor Sokolov has been removed as commander of the Black Sea Flotilla. He was previously presumed killed in the September 2023 Ukrainian missile strike on the fleet's HQ in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea. https://t.co/qQHwruEC6E https://t.co/CU85cEeJTd
Ukraine has destroyed exactly 1/3rd of the Russian Black Sea fleet - taking out a ship a month on average. Russia will not have a fleet at this pace if this keeps going https://t.co/BBy1N8mC1K
Russian Black Sea commander 'sacked after Ukraine downs warship' https://t.co/8a0EwuYSsi
🇺🇦🇷🇺🚨‼️ Black see fleet commander fired. During the internal investigation into the BDK, the duties of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet were entrusted to Chief of Staff Pinchuk. He will be the third commander of the Black Sea Fleet for the Northern Military District. https://t.co/Zo2EjEXD20
Ukraine’s land forces are suffering from Russia’s growing advantage in artillery fires. But its naval campaign against the Black Sea Fleet is yielding spectacular results. We explain why https://t.co/snt0slXHHM 👇
⚠️ RUSSIAN BLOGGERS SAY FLEET COMMANDER FIRED AFTER LATEST UKRAINIAN SHIP ATTACK (Reuters) Russian military bloggers and a former Kremlin adviser said on Thursday that Moscow had fired the commander of its Black Sea fleet, a day after Ukraine said it had destroyed a large… https://t.co/ExHTrIH4Xv
Head of Russia's Black Sea Fleet dismissed, media claim https://t.co/baJOvg9xiC
Russia and Ukraine exchange air attacks after sinking of another Russian warship off occupied-Crimea https://t.co/AtKxLwNWOk
Russian Navy commander "sacked" after third of Black Sea Fleet lost https://t.co/eTcElkBwXH https://t.co/kYnuYagsbM
‘Dead’ Black Sea Fleet Commander Reportedly Sacked After Latest Naval Loss Russian milbloggers report Admiral #ViktorSokolov, who was once thought to have died in a September 2023 #StormShadow attack on his headquarters, has been removed from his post. https://t.co/1DGbdOY8Qt
In #Russia, the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been reportedly dismissed after #Ukraine had hit and sunk another Russian warship off the coast of Crimea: https://t.co/4iyXE3iUUF
Admiral Viktor Sokolov has reportedly been removed from his command of the Russian Black Sea Fleet-- one day after yet another Russian ship was hit and damaged/sunk by Ukraine. https://t.co/SXeDEiMBuS https://t.co/htQiaQ1YU3 https://t.co/jwTy32OBF6 https://t.co/LYwmK9Jal3 https://t.co/0yo8wjOc2z
Russian "military correspondents" report that head of the Russian Black Sea Fleet might have lost his position after the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed Caesar Kunikov large landing ship. According to some "Z-channels," the duties of commander of the Black Sea Fleet are… https://t.co/2QfNwrqgnf https://t.co/E9ggIarXwj
Russian media reports claim Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Nikolayevich Sokolov has been removed from his post. https://t.co/flWxoj5s1D
#War ⚠️ There have been changes in the command of the Black Sea Fleet.
Rybar collective claims that “according to preliminary information”, Russian Black Sea Fleet commander Viktor Sokolov has been fired. This comes after the sinking of Tsezar Kunikov, a large landing vessel, by Ukrainian sea drones.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian Intelligence: the sunken Caesar Kunikov ship was transporting cargo. It looks like not many crew members survived. https://t.co/DLdTlUTLOV https://t.co/2zX9CGGMo1
Ukraine claims critical strike on Caesar Kunikov, Russian Black Sea warship https://t.co/8tFSI8ZJl3
Ukraine has claimed it has dealt Moscow another blow with the sinking of another Russian military vessel in the Black Sea. https://t.co/IMwikAT6tE
NEW: Ukrainian forces successfully sank another Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) landing ship in the Black Sea off the southern coast of occupied Crimea on the night of February 13 to 14. (1/2) https://t.co/IDaFsb3XSO
Ukraine has taken out four landing ships in the Black Sea in seven months. The Caesar Kunikov is the latest. We explain how the country is beating Russia at sea https://t.co/XoP3zYXl3w 👇
Ukraine has claimed it has dealt Moscow another blow with the sinking of another Russian military vessel in the Black Sea. > https://t.co/R2oYSYtM8q https://t.co/FnYBhidreU
REMOTE CONTROL KILL: Five of Ukraine's MAGURA V5 naval strike drones targeted and sank the Russian amphibious ship Caesar Kunikov off Yalta. Here's the fast, stealthy and deadly MAGURA V-5 at a glance. @Maks_NAFO_FELLA posts strike video below. https://t.co/93RA4v45T8 https://t.co/07FOPrHxsX
"Russian large landing ship Caesar Kunikov was hit by 5 Magura V5 naval drones and it was carrying cargo from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol," Head of the GUR Kyrylo Budanov said. https://t.co/6aPIsrdC78
Ukraine claims another kill in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet https://t.co/vMQ2tmygVk https://t.co/vMQ2tmygVk
DEEP SIX: @StevenHorrobin has analyzed still frames from the sinking of the RU landing ship Caesar Kunikov. Struck port-side amidships, damage to the machine spaces is evident. Fire then spreads to the well deck; down by the stern, Caesar Kunikov lists to port and founders. https://t.co/ZZgXs5bAHF
BBC Verify has been analysing a Ukrainian military video that claims to show the moment the Russian Caesar Kunikov landing ship was hit by Ukrainian drones off the coast of occupied Crimea. Here’s what we can say so far. https://t.co/WWdEvsrjPV
A few stills from the available drone footage which appear to show catastrophic explosive damage below the port exhaust stack, a life raft beside the vessel, and the Ropucha class vessel rolling onto its port side in a matter of seconds. https://t.co/r1tgdnL8of
So… some reports of Ukraine sinking another Russian landing ship. Putin be like: https://t.co/2zsL28nhp8
So… some reports of Ukraine sinking another Russian landing ship. https://t.co/JLn3Ne1OLT
Ukraine says it has sunk another warship, disabling a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet https://t.co/OXoUifSmRm
Russian radio communications confirm the destruction of the #CesarKunikov assault #ship, with Ukrainian #intelligence intercepting transmissions detailing visual inspections of the sunken vessel. https://t.co/N6sUtLMw5O
The Russian Navy is a joke. Ukrainian military says it sank a Russian landing ship in the Black Sea https://t.co/wKAfw0ie76
Ukraine destroys another Russian warship in the Black Sea off Crimea My report on what happened below. Thanks to @The_Lookout_N for the help. https://t.co/8YZWpB4cm0
Ukrainian Naval Victory: Robot #Drones Blast, Sink Major Russian Warship The 4,000-ton amphibious assault ship went down offshore next to a densely populated seaside resort. It was the fifth Russian #warship – of that type – sunk by Kyiv. https://t.co/lVbz4ZYdgq
Ukraine just sank the Caesar Kunikov, part of Russia's Black Sea fleet. The Caesar Kunikov was used to transport weapons to the Assad regime to slaughter Syrian civilians. A piece of justice is served — thank you Ukraine! https://t.co/6vevOolXfr
"We will not disclose the number of sea drones, but yes, they were Magura V5, we can already talk about this. So, today the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship was destroyed, approximately 4 km from the coast in the Alupka area. Of course, these are complex complex operations that… https://t.co/9ssp9LOPT7
HUR says it’s destroyed the large Russian landing ship "Caesar Kunikov" of the Black Sea Fleet. “The successful mission was carried out by special forces of Group 13 of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.” The ship could “accommodate 87 crew members.” https://t.co/74bnHCNIaa https://t.co/cf6XhYuA0e
Another Russian ship sunk. Poor JD & Tommy are going to be distraught. Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov sunk off Crimea, says Ukraine https://t.co/xT20kRngWW https://t.co/Slj67nbvps
Ukrainian Armed Forces Report Sinking of Russian Amphibious Ship off Crimea Coast https://t.co/WhLUgtK3Sn
🏴☠️ Sinking of Ceasar Kunikov leaves Russian Black Sea Fleet with only 5 serviceable ships, down from 13 https://t.co/F7kzCOy70q
Near Alupka, off the coast of Russian-occupied #Crimea, south #Ukraine, the Ukrainian USV strike hit and sunk large landing ship Tsezar Kunnikov of #Russia's Black Sea Fleet: 1/2 https://t.co/ViT2ce3GzP
Ukraine continues to destroy the Russian navy’s fleet. Without a navy of their own…
⚡️Navy says only 5 Ropucha-class ships left in Russia's Black Sea Fleet after sinking of Caesar Kunikov. Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said that only five of the 13 such ships remained in service in Russia's Black Sea Fleet. https://t.co/62ZEkgWZRr
This video released by Ukraine's military intelligence appears to show the attack on a Russian warship off the coast of Crimea. https://t.co/CDtqwWUTcj https://t.co/e8sTJTN5Gd
Russian Black Sea Fleet just lost its third landing ship https://t.co/AciMylLI7V https://t.co/uHwgDEOe4h
Ukrainian Magura v5 USVs successfully destroyed the Russian Ropucha class 'Caesar Kunikov' (pennant 158) last night. This was one of the vessels that suffered damage in port when the Saratov was destroyed in Berdiansk in 2022. https://t.co/8sEQ8b9eQK
Ukraine says it has destroyed Russian ship in Black Sea - https://t.co/gU8gm8EIYf via @FT
POV: You found out that Ukraine destroyed another russian ship. https://t.co/FAPuz56OlD
Ukrainian naval drones have destroyed Russia’s “Tsezar Kunikov” large amphibious vessel, carrying up to 90 military personnel and a cargo of ammunition (drones?) close to Anapa, Crimea. The vessel was named after a Soviet officer who fought in Crimea in 1943, KIA on Feb14 1943. https://t.co/fTvDYEOZrK
The Ukrainians have sunk another important Russian warship--and are winning the naval war. It remains perhaps the most surprising and important development in the war so far. I tried to make sense of it in this update. https://t.co/BsP0qZPxl5
Ukrainian Magura V5 naval surface drone was presented in UAE UMEX 2024 in late January. The pro-russian Topwar review website claimed that "Ukrainian Naval Forces admitted decrease of importance of surface drones". Since then, they sank two landing ships, including "Cezar… https://t.co/YsALt10ShF
#Watch: Russian landing-ship Caesar Kunikov getting hit a few hours ago after several hits by Ukrainian naval drones. https://t.co/Iz3pSeDJfp
#Photo: Image captures the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov capsizing several hours ago following multiple strikes by Ukrainian naval drones. The vessel, with a crew of 87 Russian sailors, sank into the icy waters of the Black Sea. https://t.co/sS0iMHbvpK
Picture of the Russian landing-ship Caesar Kunikov going belly-up a few hours ago after several hits by Ukrainian naval drones. It had a crew of 87 Russian sailors who went into the freezing waters of the Black Sea after the vessel sunk https://t.co/dNJF1rMtQd
Looks like Russia has now lost 3,000 tanks since its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, equivalent to its pre-war usable inventory. Now we learn that the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk by Ukraine in the Black Sea this morning.
Ukraine’s military says it destroyed a Russian warship off the south coast of Crimea, the latest in a string of operations targeting Kremlin navy vessels https://t.co/n6Prls2rC5
Veni, vidi, vici. @DI_Ukraine released video of the successful strike on the russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov. https://t.co/RPcpDi0Dck
#Watch: Footage of several Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) striking the Caesar Kunikov early this morning. https://t.co/6OyCMqlkbY https://t.co/KVDaDyF32V
BREAKING: This was the explosion that finally sank the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov off the Crimean coast 3 hours ago. Looks like the Ukrainian naval drones hit ammunition stored on board. Huge explosion which doomed the crew of around 50 Russian sailors. https://t.co/wSJCTFtVnT
Ukraine-Built Naval Drones Sink Russian Assault Ship Military Intelligence said the special operation used Ukraine's own #MAGURA V5 maritime drones to sink the Russian amphibious assault ship #CesarKunikov in the #BlackSea in the pre-dawn attack. https://t.co/MsVs2hfsUR
Last image of the Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov, as seen by a Ukrainian USV. Torn apart by multiple USV impacts and taking on water, the vessel lies on its side, mid capsize. https://t.co/iOtX0ZTWJT
Russian warships have no business in the Black Sea off Ukraine's Crimea. Russian warship Caesar Kunikow found out the hard way this morning, self-combusting with help from a Ukrainian drone :) Excellent work @DI_Ukraine https://t.co/MjdJDQHhOl
Russia loses 1060 troops, 66 artillery systems, 78 vehicles in one day—Kyiv https://t.co/IBcHYOKP61 https://t.co/3Ju8dypHnI
Happy Valentine's Day! The Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with @DI_Ukraine, destroyed the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship. https://t.co/5LEizZbR99
Ukraine says it destroyed Russian ship in Black Sea https://t.co/m19As7Wm6z via @ft
Ukraine sunk another Russian ship in the Black Sea this morning, I'm sure we'll see Russian propagandists quickly insist it doesn't matter though and that it's a waste of resources. I'm sure sea drones will change the outcome in Avdiivka. https://t.co/WMRUfgr1pn
Ukrainian military intelligence now releasing video of the maritime drone attack on the Russian naval ship, the Caesar Kunikov. The ship has reportedly sunk. https://t.co/Yxt4Cv9p8Y https://t.co/tWv7y6Komg
BREAKING: Ukraine releases video proving it used a naval drone swarm to strike and sink the 112 meter long Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov this morning. The ship capsized after several hits and quickly sunk The crew was around 50 men https://t.co/OM7AIPHSeS
⚡️🔥The GUR released footage from a naval drone attack on Russian Project 775 Ropucha-I-class large landing ship Ceasar Kunikov near the shores of occupied Crimea. Magura V5 naval drones inflicted critical damage on the left side of the ship after which it began to sink. Fun… https://t.co/VnuvHZ5PJw
Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea naval fleet was reported to have suffered a fresh blow with a large Russian landing ship being destroyed by Ukrainian drones https://t.co/rWMX3vdlc4
Footage just released by the Ukrainian GUR showing the aftermath of this morning’s USV attack on the Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov this morning. The ship quickly rolled over and capsized after taking multiple USV hits. https://t.co/gwnUXXY6RK
Putin Black Sea fleet 'suffers fresh blow with a large Russian landing ship hit' by Ukrainian sea drones https://t.co/JdBJzxYojT
GUR destroyed big landing ship “Caesar Kunikov” with naval drone. 💪🏻🇺🇦 Black Sea fleet has no business in our waters https://t.co/GSX2SlGmuT
At this rate, the Russian Black Sea Fleet won’t have any warships left soon. Ropucha-class large landing ship Cesar Kunikov hit and apparently sunk by Ukrainian naval drones overnight. https://t.co/yUJDmtKYgA
The Ukrainian GUR just posted footage of multiple Ukrainian USVs hitting the Russian Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov this morning, sinking it. https://t.co/YEVe72A26p
⚡️The Main Intelligence Directorate (#HUR) has published a video of the destruction of the #CaesarKunikov landing ship. https://t.co/6lWwm6gvJx
#NewsAlert | Ukraine says it has destroyed a Russian warship in Black Sea. (Reported by news agency AFP)
Footage claiming to show explosions on Russian Navy's Ropucha-I-class large landing ship Caesar Kunikov after Ukrainian attack. https://t.co/szIMsFzauB https://t.co/4lXyolS7rv
Ukraine 'sinks another Putin warship off Crimea': Russia 'stages sea rescue operation' https://t.co/Jg5t9kvCg6 https://t.co/B5o3rRw8ly
🇺🇦🇷🇺‼️🚨Ukraine attacked a Black Sea Fleet ship off the coast of Crimea and achieved a hit/hits using naval drones. The footage does not make the damage to the ship clear. Also at night, the enemy tried to attack Crimea with aerial UAVs. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported… https://t.co/b2bn2UWQou
Ukrainian Armed force claimed attack on Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov near occupied Crimea https://t.co/XUl8ogkc2S https://t.co/KGnCyKuWP8
Appears Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted with sea drones yet another Russian military vessel off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea. https://t.co/LXNy8Ww8sP
Ukrainska Pravda’s sources in GUR claim the Russian Tsesar Kunikov Project 775 landing ship was sunk by drones. A Russian channel claims the crew is alive. https://t.co/3ZCh0DR4Mf https://t.co/jLuYTVjjoq https://t.co/dGHAZ7XEXp https://t.co/0j0rIbGNk1 https://t.co/LNtuyoTi5W https://t.co/bp9jIW5MZm
***BREAKING*** Unconfirmed: #Ukrainian GUR maritime drones (USV) (likely Magura) attacked #Russian Ropucha landing ship Caesar Kunikov in (Цезар Куніков) near Crimea. Reportedly ship sunk. Awaiting more info. https://t.co/kFEwddltht
Reports of 🇷🇺 large landing ship “Tsesar Kunikov” attacked & damaged near Crimea. By a strange coincidence, the Soviet soldier after whom the ship is named, also died on Feb 14. #StandWithUkraine https://t.co/1FMsbf0YXi
‼️BREAKING‼️ 🔥| 🇺🇦Ukraine has sunk another large landing ship of the 🇷🇺Russian Black Sea Fleet near the Crimea. 😍|| You can see that the ship's ammunition is exploding. It can be seen that to save the "drowning" approached another ship. Also seen nearby is a submarine. https://t.co/qgwytPiV9P