Satellite imagery and video footage seem to substantiate reviews of two separate Ukrainian assaults on Russian belongings within the Black Sea final week: a drone boat strike in western Crimea, and a missile strike on a petroleum facility on the port of Kavkaz. 

On Thursday, Ukraine’s General Staff claimed credit score for an ATACMS missile strike on the port of Kavkaz. According to pro-Ukraine accounts, residents of Kavkaz reported as much as 10 explosions in a row in a single day Wednesday; bystander imagery appeared to corroborate a collection of explosions and fires on the facility, however the authenticity of the footage couldn’t be instantly confirmed. 

Satellite imagery obtained by Radio Free Liberty (a U.S. government-funded information outlet) seems to point out restricted injury to a tank farm on the port. 

The Ukrainian navy additionally claims to have broken two vessels that have been used for Russian navy logistics. The satellite tv for pc imagery seems to point out that two vessels that have been current on the pier in Kavkaz earlier than the date of the alleged assault have now departed. 

Kavkaz is Russia’s fifth-busiest port in cargo turnover, and the second-busiest Russian port within the Black Sea space (after Novorossiysk). It can be house to an uncommon nine-car rail ferry crossing, connecting to Russian-occupied Crimea on the alternative facet of the Kerch Strait. 

Satellite photographs appeared exhibiting the implications of the strike on Kavkaz port final evening.

It seems to be like part of the oil terminal was broken. Large vessels have been faraway from the port’s water space.

In phrases of cargo turnover, Kavkaz port is the fifth in Russia and the… https://t.co/HmbaCOGWSl pic.twitter.com/Jwz55KSlYm

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 31, 2024

?? Powerful EXPLOSIONS within the port of #Kavkaz once more , locals from Kerch report about 8-10 explosions
pic.twitter.com/OR2xjnMhWi

— Claretta Nijhuis (@NijhuisClaretta) May 31, 2024

Separately, Ukraine’s protection ministry claimed one other profitable drone strike on the Black Sea Fleet, this time within the northwestern Black Sea. The targets this time have been smaller in scale – two Tuna-class patrol boats – however the final result appeared to favor Ukrainian forces. Footage launched by Ukrainian intelligence exhibits the drones approaching the Russian patrol vessels underneath hearth, dodging tracers on their strategy to making contact with the vessels’ hulls. Ukraine’s “Group 13” drone boat job power claimed to have broken two of the patrol vessels and destroyed two extra. 

As reported by @DI_Ukraine, in a single day its particular unit “Group 13” destroyed two Russian vessels within the occupied Crimea. Defense Intelligence says that, based on their preliminary information, these have been the KS-701 Tunets (Tuna) sort boats. pic.twitter.com/A6csXPrRMK

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 30, 2024

After injury or destruction of at the least 15 full-size Russian warships, the once-powerful Black Sea Fleet has retreated to the relative security of Novorossiysk, a Russian harbor within the northeastern Black Sea. The small Tuna-class patrol craft are among the many few targets left on the west facet of Crimea, the place Ukraine has concentrated its efforts.