Wreck in the port of Feodosiya
Satellite photos show sunk warship
By Martin Morcinek
December 28, 2023, 10:34 a.m
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The Ukrainian attack in the south of Crimea is hitting the Russian Black Sea Fleet harder than previously known. Two days after the air strike, high-resolution satellite images revealed the full extent of the damage. The hit warship is not “damaged”, but destroyed.
Images from space confirm Ukrainian information: During the attack on the Russian-occupied port of Feodosiya in the south of Crimea, the Ukrainian Air Force actually succeeded in sinking the Russian warship “Novocherkassk”.
The day after the surprise strike, only smoldering debris could be seen at the berth of the almost 113 meter long and 15 meter wide landing ship, as high-resolution satellite images from the US provider Maxar show. The warship has sunk and is aground. Only the bridge structures stick out of the water near the quay in the harbor basin.
The berth of the “Novocherkassk”, taken on December 26th: Near the quay there is only a smoldering wreck.
(Photo: Satellite Imagery © Maxar Technologies Provided by European Space Imaging)
The Ukrainians attacked the ship, which was allegedly loaded with ammunition, from the air on the night of December 26th. In an operation that had apparently been prepared for a long time, Ukrainian fighter jets entered Russian-controlled airspace on the night of December 26th and fired cruise missiles towards Crimea.
At least one of these projectiles reached its target. The Novocherkassk was badly hit and fire broke out on board. Apparently the landing also caught fire. Heavy subsequent explosions rocked the port, as seen on video footage from startled residents.
Shortly after the direct hit, a huge fireball rose above the port of Feodosiya and the thunderous crack of an enormous explosion shook the surrounding area. The “Novocherkassk” is a special ship of the Ropucha class, which due to its design can be used as a military freighter, troop transport or ferry.
The heavily armed combat ship can drop tanks or supplies onto the coast via a loading ramp in the bow. For this purpose, the “Novocherkassk”, equipped with cannons, launch containers and air defense systems, had a spacious cargo hold, which apparently played a special role in the supply planning of the Russian invading army. At the time of the attack, the ship was reportedly carrying large quantities of artillery ammunition and combat drones.
Shoigu must report “damage” to Putin
The Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged the Ukrainian attack far behind the front the morning after, but initially only spoke of “damage” to the ship. The now publicly available satellite images, on the other hand, show a total loss and also suggest that other ships and systems in the port may have been destroyed in the Ukrainian precision strike.
The port of Feodosiya is located on the southeast coast of Crimea, far behind the front, deep in the hinterland of the Russian-occupied territories. The nearest Ukrainian-held regions near Kherson or Zaporizhia are around 280 kilometers away as the crow flies. In between there are several active Russian combat units.
Outsmarted Russian radar?
It is still unclear how the Ukrainians managed to overcome Russian air defenses. There are dozens of Russian military bases, ammunition depots and Russian air force bases with radar systems and missile defense positions in Crimea. Warships like the “Novocherkassk” also have their own radar and weapon systems for anti-aircraft defense.
The attack on Feodosiya will certainly have consequences for the Russian military. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu immediately informed President Vladimir Putin about the strike on the ship and the damage to the Novocherkassk, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said – without going into further details.
The sinking of the “Novocherkassk” is a serious blow and could have more than just a symbolic effect on the Russian strategy in Crimea: The air strike shows that Russian warships are within striking distance of the Russians in all ports in Crimea – not just in Sevastopol and Kerch Ukrainians lie. This means that the Russian war plans in Crimea, including all supply planning, must be realigned.