Earlier, Ukrainian forces conducted a coordinated long-range attack on the Russian port of Sevastopol, according to a UK Ministry of Defence Intelligence Update on the war released today.

The attack, which likely included a combination of one-way attack drones and Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, almost certainly resulted in the sinking of the KARAKURT-Class Corvette ‘TSIKLON’.

‘TSIKLON’ is one of four Russian KALIBR-capable KARAKURT-Class vessels that have operated in the Black Sea since 2022.

Two of these vessels have likely been transferred to the Caspian Sea to complete sea trials safely following a series of successful Ukrainian attacks. The fourth vessel of the group was previously heavily damaged in a Ukrainian attack in November 2023.

Although this is unlikely to significantly change the impact the Russian Navy is having on Ukrainian operations, it does highlight a continued danger to Russian forces operating in the Crimea and Black Sea region. The attack underscores continued Ukrainian success when conducting coordinated strikes.

George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

24 COMMENTS

  1. its unlikely to significantly change the impact the Russian Navy is having on Ukrainian operations because the Russian navy is having negligible effect on Ukranian operations these days. This was one of the few vessels still in the western Black Sea region

      • bloody hell it looks like the Brazilian navy could wipe the floor with the Russians. u can’t believe that the russian navy is so toothless and incompetent.

    • Eliminating the Russian Navy from the area will obviously be positive for Ukraine and it’s war effort. Elimination of the Russian air force (in the area around Ukraine) must be next on the list. Without those two things Ukraine will find it tricky to have an impact on land.

      • They still have plenty of subs in the black sea, which could close off the area if needed. The effect on the war is zero other than morale boost for Ukraine

          • Their subs can launch them also. I think it’s more they are saving their remaining missiles for the winter again, as they don’t have many left.

          • That’s a long way of saying “Not since the Ukranians forced the Russian Navy to port”

          • Not sure, as surely their subs could keep up the bombardment if they had enough missiles to do it.

  2. Meanwhile china is conducting military drills around Taiwan basically blockading it. Good job we have an offshore patrol vessel in the region to nip that in the bud!

  3. These are only 800-860t vessels, small nowdays even for a corvette. Interesting how all theSAM/CIWS etc fails.

    • Agreed, more patrol boats really. The Canadians sank an Iraqi one with a Sparrow AAM in Gulf 1. So it does not take much.

      • Indeed, you can stick a load of heavyweight anti ship missiles/land attack missiles on a small hull like this but it does not removed the fact they are very very vulnerable…

        Its also interesting that Russia seems unable to protect its navel assets even in port…which you would imagine is covered by the best integrated air defence system they can muster.

        • The Nordics do it well but have the coastlines. As for Russian air defences? Pantsir proved useless in Syria, S300 and 400 seem next to useless. Israels “reply” to the Iranians proved, again, you cannot rely on second rate air defences. Precision ground launched munitions are taking these things out easily. Problem seems for Ukraine the drip feed of western equipment.

        • it’s because they’ve nobody able to take charge of the utter mess that they have put themselves into.

        • Looking at the recent video footage thr IADS in Novorossysk seems to be a bunch of Mobiks firing HMGs wildly at the city centre.

          Also there’s the recent helping of HIMARS annihilating S400 launchers.

  4. All in all there has been a significant loss of Russian Navy tonnage in the last two years beginning with the ‘Moskva’. Not at all insignificant to the war effort.

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