A Ukrainian attack on a Russian naval base blew a hole in the hull of a large warship and caused severe damage, sources have claimed.
The Olenegorsky Gornyak, a 112-metre landing vessel, reportedly suffered a “serious breach” from the drone strike and is unable to carry out combat missions.
Ukraine attacked the Novorossiysk base in southern Russia this morning. A naval drone loaded with 450 kilograms of TNT crashed into the hull of the ship, which had 100 crew members on board, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
Grainy footage from a camera mounted on the drone apparently shows it slamming into the port side of the landing ship.
Russia’s defence ministry said it had repelled the attack, while regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev claimed there had been no casualties or damage.
An unconfirmed video, published on social media, seemingly shows the Olenegorsky Gornyak listing to one side and being towed away.
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01:06 PM BST
Ukraine ‘tiring’ as it holds on to eastern territory
Ukraine is enduring a “difficult and tiring struggle” in the east as Russia launches multiple offensives to claw back territory lost last year.
Deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said: “Our troops are completely repelling enemy attacks in the Kupyansk, Lymansk and Swatisk directions… enemy shelling has increased.
“In addition, in the Kupyansk direction, the enemy set himself the goal of returning the territories lost last fall.
“This is a difficult and tiring struggle, but our defenders do not give the enemy the opportunity to implement his plans.”
12:57 PM BST
Counteroffensive faces ‘fierce resistance’ as it pushes south
Russia is “fiercely resisting” Ukraine’s counteroffensive in the south as troops attempt to push through to Melitopol and Berdyansk.
Hanna Maliar, a Ukrainian defence minister, said: “In addition to continuous mining, the enemy has equipped protected concrete engineering fortifications on key commanding heights.
“In such difficult conditions, our troops are moving forward gradually, but very persistently.”
12:44 PM BST
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12:35 PM BST
Ukraine ‘hitting Russia hard’ with cluster bombs
Ukraine is intensifying cluster munition strikes as it seeks to regain ground in eastern Ukraine, a Russian soldier has claimed.
The individual, who uses the call sign Pedagogue, said the controversial weapons were being used near the village of Vuhledar, Donetsk.
He told Russia’s Tass news agency: “They had not used cluster munitions for long and now they are actively employing them, hitting hard.
“There have also appeared a large number of kamikaze drones and they use them everywhere.”
12:29 PM BST
Ukraine repels Russian advance in Donetsk
Russian forces are suffering “significant losses” as they attempt to seize two cities in Donetsk, Ukraine’s general staff has said.
A spokesman for the armed forces said troops had repelled Russian attacks south of Bakhmut at Avdiivka and Marinka.
He continued: “The enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive actions in the northern and central parts of Marinka… [and] north and southeast of Avdiivka.
“The enemy is suffering significant losses in personnel, weapons and equipment.”
12:16 PM BST
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12:11 PM BST
‘We need US cooperation to bring back grain deal’, says Russia
Russia has said it needs action, not words, from the US to revive the Black Sea export deal it withdrew from last month.
Moscow declined to renew the agreement, which guaranteed safe passage for Ukrainian grain, claiming not enough had been done to remove obstacles to its own food and fertiliser exports.
A Kremlin spokesman said: “If they want to contribute to fulfilling the part of the grain deal that is due to Russia, the Americans must fulfil it, not promise that they will think about it.
“As soon as this is done, this deal will immediately be renewed.”
12:02 PM…
Read More: Ukraine ‘blows hole’ in Russian warship