On May 21, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces confirmed that a Ukrainian attack on May 19 struck the Russian missile ship Tsiklon in Sevastopol, Crimea. This strike is part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to target the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which has seen significant losses in recent months.
The Tsiklon, a Karakurt-class missile ship, was reportedly hit during an operation that also resulted in the destruction of the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets. The extent of the damage to the Tsiklon has not been specified, but it is notable as the ship was armed with Kalibr missiles and only entered service in July 2023.
Russia highly likely has no cruise missile ships left in the Black Sea anymore.
On 19 May, Ukraine likely destroyed the last such vessel, the Cyclone, according to 🇺🇦 Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk. Verification is ongoing, but the probability is high. pic.twitter.com/85NnfsNquK
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) May 20, 2024
Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk previously indicated to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the Tsiklon may have been lost, which would represent a critical blow to Russia’s missile-launching capabilities from Crimea. Now confirmed, the loss would mean that Russia no longer has any missile carriers in the Black Sea capable of launching Kalibr missiles from short range. Pletenchuk had previously mentioned the strategic importance of such strikes, emphasizing their role in reducing the threat from the Russian fleet.
This attack is part of a broader Ukrainian strategy to incapacitate the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In March, Pletenchuk reported that due to successful Ukrainian attacks, Russia had withdrawn nearly all its major ships from ports in occupied Crimea. Additionally, the Strategic Communications Center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (StratCom) reported that as of early February 2024, 33% of the Black Sea Fleet’s warships had been disabled, including 24 ships and one submarine.
The Tsiklon’s technical specifications include a displacement of 800 tonnes, a length of 65 meters, and a maximum speed of 30 knots. It was equipped with advanced missile systems and anti-aircraft guns, making it a formidable asset within the Black Sea Fleet. Its loss underscores the effectiveness of Ukraine’s naval strategy and the ongoing challenges faced by the Russian military in maintaining its operational capabilities in the region.
🇷🇺Russian channels now reporting the modern Kalibr-armed corvette RFS Tsiklon was hit by 2 Ukrainian ATACMS (short range ballistic missile) and sunk on Saturday night in Sevastopol. (A much more serious loss than just minesweeper Kovrovets previously reported). 6 Russian sailors… pic.twitter.com/1S8sa0Fu8Y
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) May 20, 2024
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