In a major escalation of the ongoing conflict, Russia has claimed responsibility for sinking Ukraine’s largest commissioned naval vessel, the reconnaissance ship Simferopol, in what is being described as Moscow’s first successful sea drone attack.
According to Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the attack left one crew member dead and several others missing, while most of the crew were reported safe. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that a naval drone struck the Laguna-class medium reconnaissance vessel in the Danube River delta, part of Ukraine’s Odessa region. Built for radio, electronic, radar, and optical surveillance, the Simferopol was launched in 2019 and officially joined the Ukrainian Navy in 2021. Russian media and the WarGonzo Telegram channel described it as the largest Ukrainian naval ship commissioned since 2014.
A UAV specialist quoted by TASS emphasized that the strike marked the first-ever deployment of a sea drone to destroy an enemy warship. Analysts note that Russia has significantly ramped up the production of unmanned aerial and naval systems in recent months, making them central to its evolving war strategy.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces claimed on Thursday that they had damaged a Russian missile-armed warship in the Sea of Azov. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, the vessel, reportedly within the Kalibr missile launch zone near Temryuk Bay, was forced to withdraw from combat duty following the strike.
The escalation coincides with Russia’s reported missile strike on a drone production facility in Kyiv, allegedly intended for manufacturing Turkish Bayraktar drones. Ukrainian politician Igor Zinkevich confirmed that the site had been targeted with two missiles.
On the diplomatic front, the United States has finalized an $825 million arms deal with Ukraine, including long-range missiles and support equipment, in coordination with NATO allies Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. According to the U.S. State Department, the package will be funded through foreign military financing and allied contributions.
Despite Washington’s continued military backing, efforts to mediate peace remain stalled, with U.S. officials acknowledging little progress in bridging divides between Kyiv and Moscow.
