Defense forces hit two Russian ships, communications center and several facilities in Sevastopol
Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed two large Russian landing ships (Photo: Getty Images)
The Ukrainian defense forces struck targets belonging to Russian occupiers in Sevastopol. Two Russian landing ships and a communication center were destroyed, according to the Strategic Communications Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ukrainian military targeted large landing ships Yamal and Azov. Additionally, the communication center of the Russian occupying forces and several infrastructure objects of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol were hit.
About Russian ships
Yamal is a large landing ship of Project 775. It was built in 1987, and its homeport is the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The ship's crew consists of 87 personnel. It can have two artillery installations, two rocket launchers, and four anti-aircraft guns. It can accommodate up to 500 tons of equipment and cargo and 225 paratroopers.
The large landing ship Azov of Project 775 belongs to the 197th Brigade of Landing Ships of the Russian Federation. It was launched in 1989. In the spring of 2022, the ship was undergoing repairs at the 13th Ship Repair Plant in Sevastopol. Its specifications are similar to those of Yamal. It can transport equipment and marines and is equipped with a smoke screen.
Explosions in Crimea
On the evening of March 23, explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Crimea, including in Sevastopol. There were reports of alleged work by air defense systems, and the occupiers closed the Crimean Bridge. The citizens reported a fire in Kozacha Bay in Sevastopol.
OSINT (open source intelligence) analysts suggested that the Russian Black Sea Fleet's central communication hub in Sevastopol, a crucial element of its operations, may have been affected, potentially disrupting its command and control capabilities.
There were also explosions at night in Crimea. Local Telegram channels reported that an oil depot used by the Russians was on fire in Hvardiiske.
