Russia claims it has saved a large landing vessel that was damaged by a Ukrainian missile on the port of Berdyansk, 24 March.
Telegram posting by Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-appointed official in south Ukraine, claiming that Tochka U ballistic missiles had hit the Russian-held port.
He stated that the crew had sunk the ship to prevent the “detonation” of on-board munitions from the fire that had been started.
Ukraine claimed that it had struck the ship at the time. Russia has only now confirmed the claim.
Russian reports don’t give any details about the ship’s damage but state that it will be towable to Kerch, Crimea. Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula in 2014.
According to the Ukrainian military, the missile strike of 24 March was described as the Orsk. However, the Russian salvage ship is the Saratov. Another of six large landing vessels in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is the Orsk.
According to kchf.ru, the fleet website confirms that the Saratov was damaged. It sank in port on March 24, but it does not mention the Ukrainian missile strike.
According to the fleet website, the ship was “damaged by fire and explosions caused by it”, which contradicts the account given by Mr Rogov. According to the fleet website, the ship was damaged in its hull and sank at its dock.
Saratov, a 58-year old, joined the Soviet navy as a cadet in 1964. It can transport up to 20 tanks or 45 armoured personnel carrier or 50 trucks as well as 400 marines.
The ship measures 113m (371ft), and can hold a maximum load of 1,500 tons.
Berdyansk is located on the Sea of Azov between Mariupol and Crimea. The Russian military had a strategic goal of capturing Mariupol, which is now in ruins following months of bombardment.
More pride is taken by the Ukrainian military for having destroyed the Black Sea Fleet flagship, the missile cruiser Moskva. Russia denies that two Neptune missiles sunk the ship, but Russia claims that it did.
