Ukrainian Drones Sink Russian Missile Boat “Ivanovets” with Potential 40 Sailors Onboard

The attack occurred overnight, targeting the vessel while it was on guard duty at a base in Novoozerne. The loss is deemed significant for Russia, given the limited number of such boats (only three) in the Black Sea Fleet, along with their equipped "Moskit" anti-ship missiles capable of reaching up to 130 kilometers. This incident notably impacts the Russian naval force, considering the crew complement of 40 sailors. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. This event follows previous Ukrainian military actions that damaged another Russian vessel, the Project 1239 Samum missile ship. The cost of the "Ivanovets" is estimated between 60 to 70 million dollars, highlighting another considerable loss to the Russian naval assets, as acknowledged by Russia following the destruction of the ship "Novocherkassk," which resulted in over 70 sailors' deaths.