Ukrainian Forces Strike Russian Naval Assets in Crimea
In a significant military operation on the night of April 18, 2026, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) successfully targeted and disabled two Russian landing ships in Sevastopol Bay. The operation involved a special unit that struck the Project 775-class landing ship Yamal’ and the Project 1171-class landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov, both part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. This attack severely hampers Russia’s ability to transport troops and equipment to the front lines, diminishing their naval presence in the Black Sea.
In addition to the ships, Ukrainian forces destroyed a strategic Podlyot-K1 radar, which plays a crucial role in air surveillance and supports the S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. This radar is valued at approximately €4.2 million. The strikes on these critical assets highlight Ukraine’s ongoing campaign against Russian military infrastructure in the region. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed the successful operation, underscoring the importance of these recent developments in the broader context of the conflict.
Fire Breaks Out on Russian Navy Ship in Sevastopol
In a related incident on November 3, 2026, a fire erupted on a Russian anti-submarine ship of the Project 1124-M Albatros-M type in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. The vessel caught fire near the pier in Sukharna Bay, despite efforts to conceal its superstructure with camouflage nets. This ship is one of four older models from the 1980s still in service with the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The incident has raised concerns about the maintenance and operational readiness of these aging vessels. Notably, two of these ships were evacuated to the Novorossiysk naval base in 2024, while the remaining two continue to operate from Sevastopol. The situation reflects ongoing vulnerabilities within the Russian naval forces stationed in the region.
