On August 22, 2024, the Ukrainian Navy successfully targeted and sank the Russian ferry Conro Trader while it was docked at Kavkaz port in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. The ferry, which was loaded with fuel tanks, played a critical role in supplying Russian forces in occupied Crimea. The strike is part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to disrupt Russian military logistics in the region.
The Conro Trader, a 358-foot vessel built in 1978, was reportedly carrying about 30 fuel tanks when it was hit, resulting in a massive fire and its eventual sinking at the dock. The attack occurred in the Kerch Strait, and Ukrainian officials confirmed their responsibility, describing the ferry as a legitimate military target due to its role in transporting essential supplies to Russian forces.
Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, emphasized that the strike targeted military logistics rather than civilian infrastructure. While details on the weapons used were not specified, reports suggest that Ukrainian forces may have employed domestically produced Neptune missiles.
Videos and images shared on social media showed heavy smoke rising from the port, with flames visible from the burning ferry. Russian authorities, while acknowledging the loss of the vessel, attributed the incident to a Ukrainian attack and condemned it as a terrorist act.
⚡️Fire after the 🇺🇦Ukrainian-made P-360 “Neptune” anti-ship cruise missile hit the 🇷🇺Russian ferry “Conro Trader” in the port of “Kavkaz” in the Kerch Strait.
– About 30 fuel tanks are burning.
– This was the only large ferry operating on the Kerch-Russia route. pic.twitter.com/N5Eo92LX6S
— Cloooud |🇺🇦 (@GloOouD) August 22, 2024
This attack on the Conro Trader follows previous Ukrainian strikes on key Russian supply routes, including the Kerch Bridge and other critical infrastructure. The sinking of the ferry is expected to further hinder Russia’s ability to resupply its forces in Crimea, a region that has been under significant pressure from Ukrainian military operations.
The Kavkaz port, located on the Chushka Spit in the Kerch Strait, has been a frequent target for Ukrainian forces due to its strategic importance in linking Russia with occupied Crimea. This latest strike comes after an earlier attack in May that caused minor damage to the same ferry.
🚂⛴️/1. Reports about an attack on a Russian train ferry with fuel tanks in the port “Kavkaz”, Kerch strait.
Same location as in the attached post. https://t.co/HrNjWa7lxS pic.twitter.com/nDibYBuNPF
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 22, 2024
Following the attack, conflicting reports emerged about the number of crew members on board, with some accounts suggesting that two or three crew members were missing. Russian fire crews managed to contain the blaze to the ferry, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the port. However, the incident has led to the temporary suspension of the Kerch ferry service, disrupting a key logistics route for Russia.
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