Ukraine Hits Another Russian Warship In Black Sea, Claims Its Sunk One-Third Of The Fleet

 Ukraine's military this week released video of a drone strike it said sank a Russian warship in its Black Sea Fleet off the coast of Crimea.

Ukraine said Wednesday's attack on the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was carried out by a MAGURA V5 drone, which blasted open holes in the ship's side. There were about 90 people aboard the 370-foot vessel.

The attack was carried out by Ukrainian armed forces and the country's "Group 13" intelligence unit in Ukraine's territorial waters near Alupka, the country said in a statement. The ship was on location loading weapons and other military hardware for shipment to Russian forces in Ukraine when it was attacked.

"Ukraine has disabled a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet during a large-scale offensive," Ukraine's military said.

"This is in line with Ukraine's claims last week that they have disabled about 33% of Russia's warships, including 24 disabled ships and one submarine," CNN reports. "According to Ukraine's calculations, the landing ship Caesar Kunikov will be the 25th disabled ship."

Ukraine's use of drones to level the playing field against Russia has proven highly effective, as the country helped reopen grain exports to the world market after Russia's Black Sea Fleet was forced to retreat hundreds of miles. Has become capable.

"It is unmanned systems – such as drones – along with other types of advanced weapons that offer Ukraine the best way to avoid getting caught in a positional war where we do not have the advantage," Ukraine's former top general said. " Valery Zaluzhny.

The pilot of one of the drones told CNN that they are quite beneficial to Ukraine because they are "quite difficult to see" and are agile, meaning even if they are spotted, they are difficult to shoot down.

“No warship can be as maneuverable as these drones,” the pilot said.