Ukraine Strikes Two Russian Vessels in Crimea and Sochi

Ukrainian forces struck two Russian vessels in separate attacks on September 2 and 3, targeting a BK-16 landing craft in occupied Sevastopol and the Nefrit support vessel in the port of Sochi.

Strike on a Russian vessel in Sochi

The Ukrainian Navy said a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel struck the Nefrit in the port of Sochi on September 3. According to the Navy’s statement cited by Babel, the vessel caught fire following the attack.

Nefrit is a multipurpose support vessel used for maritime operations, including servicing offshore facilities, transporting cargo and personnel and carrying out underwater technical work. Open-source information indicates that the vessel operated in the Black Sea and around Novorossiysk under the Russian flag.

Reports from the scene showed smoke over the port after the attack. Independent reports initially noted that the Russian regional authorities had not publicly confirmed the strike.

BK-16 landing craft struck in Sevastopol

A separate Ukrainian strike targeted a Russian BK-16 high-speed landing craft in occupied Sevastopol in Crimea.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that the vessel was hit on September 2 or during the night of September 3. The extent of the damage is still being assessed.

The BK-16 is a transport and landing craft designed to carry personnel and conduct patrol operations. Earlier Ukrainian military reports have also documented strikes against Russian BK-16 vessels in occupied Crimea.

Other Russian military targets hit

The General Staff said the attacks were part of a broader series of operations conducted on September 2 and overnight into September 3.

In addition to the BK-16, Ukrainian forces reported striking a Krasukha-4 electronic warfare system near occupied Sevastopol, a Russian drone command post in the Maryanske area of occupied Crimea, a drone storage facility in Donetsk region and an ammunition depot near Ilovaisk. Russian military positions at the Vostochnyi training range in Novopetrivka, Zaporizhzhia region, were also targeted.

The reported damage to the BK-16 remains subject to further assessment, while the Ukrainian Navy reported that the Nefrit caught fire after the strike.