Russian warship destroyed by Ukraine off Crimean coast

A Russian warship has been destroyed off the Crimean coast, Ukraine have said. The Caesar Kunikov large landing ship was sunk in the Black Sea by naval drones overnight, as videos emerge of smoke rising over the sea water.

Ukraine's Military Intelligence, known as GUR, have said that their special operations unit 'Group 13', sank the Kunikov. The Russian military have not commented on the claim, only saying that they downed six Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea overnight.

On Tuesday, Moscow's ambassador to the UK insisted that they "cannot be beaten" because of their military's "enormous" resources.

A video released by Ukraine's military intelligence appears to show the attack on the Kunikov, a Ropucha-class landing ship commissioned in 1986. Taken from the point of view of one or more sea drones, the clip appears to show the unmanned vehicle approaching the warship. Later, the video appears to show the warship on its side, apparently sinking.

Speaking on X, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said: "The Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with the units of the @DI_Ukraine, destroyed the Caesar Kunikov large landing ship.

At the time of the attack, the ship was in the territorial waters of Ukraine, near Alupka."

This comes after the reported sinking of a Russian missile boat earlier this month, and the destruction of the flagship Moskva cruiser.

Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, is travelling to Bulgaria and Poland today to show the UK's support of key NATO allies, and also "build on work to increase defence production and bolster support to Ukraine", say the Foreign Office.

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