Ukrainian air strikes destroy Russian assault ship Novocherkassk in Feodosia, Crimea

A series of explosions and a fire broke out in the port of Russian-occupied Feodosia in Crimea. The Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed that they had hit the Russian large amphibious assault ship Novocherkassk in the port of Feodosia.

“Novocherkassk” repeats the fate of the cruiser Moskva

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that on the morning of December 26, Ukrainian tactical aviation attacked the large landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Novocherkassk, with cruise missiles near Feodosia. Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk wrote this.

“This time, the large landing ship Novocherkassk follows the route of the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the cruiser Moskva. I thank the pilots of the Air Force and everyone involved for their diligent  work”.

Ukraine’s Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk

Russians confirm the loss of the ship in Feodosia

The head of the Russian-occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, reported that the detonation allegedly ceased and the fire was localized. Specialized services were working at the scene. Authorities promised to resettle residents of several houses.

Russian telegram channels have already reported the damage:

• The area of the fire in the port allegedly reached more than 1000 meters.
• Authorities evacuated more than 350 people from the houses closest to the port in Feodosia.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the attack on the large landing ship Novocherkassk of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It said that the explosions in Feodosia were allegedly the result of “repelling an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using airborne guided missiles.” They also noted that there was one casualty and two wounded.

The Russians claimed two downed Ukrainian Su-24s without providing any evidence. The Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson denied this information, noting, “Russians have been reporting F-16s shot down (which Ukraine has not yet received – ed.) in their reports for a long time.”

Were there Iranian drones or ammunition on board?

The powerful detonation in the port of Feodosia after the strikes on the ship led experts to believe that it was carrying dangerous cargo. Telegram channels reported that there may have been Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones on board the Novocherkassk. Russia uses such drones for attacks against Ukrainian cities.

Other experts assumed that there was ammunition on board. Russia is known to use large landing ships for logistical purposes to supply its invading forces in Ukraine.

Russians moved their military ships to Feodosia, in the south east of Crimea, after a series of Ukraine’s successful strikes on Russian military facilities in Sevastopol. But new air strikes show that there is no safe place for Russian invading forces in the occupied peninsula.