On the night of March 5, the patrol ship "Sergey Kotov" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was hit in the temporarily occupied Crimea. It is reported that marine drones were used.
OBOZ.UA's sources in the GUR (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine) report confirming this information.
The following is noted:
"The GUR confirmed the destruction of the ship "Sergey Kotov" by a strike on Crimea."
OBOZ.UA's sources in the GUR said that the fate of the crew is currently being clarified. However, the explosion was so powerful that the ship itself was almost destroyed, so it is difficult to talk about further recovery.
In particular, information is being spread online that this photo captures the moment of the attack on the ship.
There was also a video posted on social media where you can allegedly see the same ship being hit.
Telegram channel "Crimean Wind" wrote about night explosions in temporarily occupied Crimea. In particular, according to eyewitnesses, up to 5 explosions were counted during the night:
"It was loud in Kerch after midnight, our subscribers counted five powerful explosions".
At 07:20 "Crimean Wind" pointed out that the information about the destruction of the "Sergey Kotov" needs to be clarified
Later, at 07:49, they indicated that "there are casualties as a result of a hit on the patrol ship "Sergey Kotov". Nothing is known about the vessel yet."
Russians online have already started posting comments with their own impressions regarding the hit on the patrol ship in t.o. Crimea. Some users refuse to "comment on this," adding that only "catamarans and rubber bananas" may remain in the Russian Fleet from now on.
It is worth noting that the "Sergey Kotov" is the third serial patrol ship of Project 22160. It was launched in January 2021, in October 2021 the ship began sea trials. And only in July 2022 it joined the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
It was equipped with a 76-mm AK-176MA artillery system, a Shtil-1 multi-channel anti-aircraft missile system, a 3M-47 Gibka short-range SAM system, two anti-diversion grenade launchers and others.
Earlier "Apostrophe" reported that GUR destroyed Russian missile boat "Ivanovets" on a Lake Donuzlav in Crimea.