March 26th 2024.
There's been some major damage done to one of Putin's prized warships, the Konstantin Olshansky. It was struck by a Ukrainian missile while serving in the Black Sea Fleet, adding to a series of losses for Russia's naval forces in the area. This is seen as a form of revenge for when Putin's troops seized the ship, along with most of Ukraine's navy, during the 2014 invasion of Crimea. The extent of the damage is not yet known, but it's clear that the 369ft landing ship has been heavily impacted.
What makes this attack even more symbolic is the fact that the Konstantin Olshansky had just been renovated for use against its original owner, Ukraine. So when Ukraine decided to strike back with their own Neptune anti-ship missile, it was a direct hit at the heart of Russia's military pride. The Ukrainian navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, proudly announced the hit and stated that it was a deliberate decision to take down a ship that was meant to be used by Ukraine.
This attack was part of a larger bombardment on the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol, home to the Black Sea Fleet. It was one of the most intense assaults since the start of the war in February 2022. In addition to the Konstantin Olshansky, Ukraine also managed to take out the Ivan Khurs, a spy ship worth £80 million, over the weekend. This was followed by successful strikes on two large landing ships, Yamal and Azov, worth a combined £340 million.
It is believed that these ships were hit by advanced missiles from the UK and France, showing the support and technology that Ukraine has at its disposal. The Russian military is facing increased humiliation as they continue to lose vessels to Ukraine's growing drone and missile capabilities. This has also caused chaos within the ranks, with Putin recently firing their navy's commander-in-chief, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, due to the embarrassing losses.
The replacement, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, will have his work cut out for him as Ukraine's campaign of kamikaze sea drones and missiles continues to weaken Russia's sea dominance. Meanwhile, Ukrainian cities are also facing destruction from Russian attacks, with Kyiv being hit by a barrage of missiles that left debris and injuries in its wake. The city's residents were caught off guard by the sudden air raid sirens and were unable to reach safety in time.
In Odesa, another city in Ukraine, four people were injured and two buildings were destroyed in a ballistic missile attack. This just goes to show the devastating impact of the ongoing war between the two countries. As Russia remains silent on the strike against the Konstantin Olshansky, it is clear that their military is facing a major setback in this conflict. And with Ukraine's growing arsenal and support from other countries, it seems that they are not backing down anytime soon.
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