A new state-of-the-art Russian ship has been torn apart by Ukrainian cruise missiles, new images have confirmed.
Ukraine's government have released pictures which indicate the 220-foot missile corvette Askold - one of Russia's newest ships - was severely damaged in the blast.
Ukraine’s strategic communications directorate said: “Confirmed. The Russian missile carrier ‘Askold’ - the newest ship of the ‘Karakurt’ project with ‘stealth’ technology was damaged due to the damage of the naval and port infrastructure of the ‘Zaliv’ plant in the temporarily occupied Crimea.”
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been targeted by Ukraine since the war began with an attack earlier this year hitting the fleet’s headquarters in Crimea and reportedly killing dozens of officers.
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Russia has lost three amphibious ships, a submarine, at least one cruiser and a supply ship since it launched its attack on Ukraine.
Many Russian ships have been badly damaged by Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles which carry a dual-charge warhead that storms the hull of a ship and explodes inside.
The majority of the attacks have been focused around Crimea while ships are in dry dock.
As Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles have a range of 155 miles, Ukrainian jets can easily target Crimea from considerable safety.
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An unconfirmed video shows what appears to be the moment three missiles launched from Ukrainian Su-24 bombers impacted on the target erupting into a huge explosion.
Recently, Ukraine seems to be more successful in destroying Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Ukraine does not own any major warships, so instead launches precision strikes and amphibious raids to attack Russia.
Last month, Russia’s frontal assault in eastern Ukraine initially resulted in huge losses, Kyiv claimed.
Earlier this year Kirovske military base in Crimea was engulfed by flames following a Ukrainian attack
Reuters/StringerGeolocated footage shows Ukrainian artillery hit multiple columns of armoured Russia personnel carriers.
The clips are said to have been filmed around Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast.
Ukraine claimed Russia lost 127 tanks, 239 APCs and 161 artillery systems.