Russian Tarantul patrol boat sunk in Sevastopol: ISW analysts share insights
Russian corvette Tarantul sank in Sevastopol (GettyImages)
Ukrainian strikes on temporarily occupied Crimea in late December 2023 sank a Russian Tarantul patrol boat. These findings are based on relevant satellite imagery and testimony from Ukrainian partisans, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"Ukrainian partisans and satellite imagery confirmed that Ukrainian strikes against occupied Crimea in late December 2023 sank a Russian Project 205P Tarantul patrol boat near Sevastopol," the statement says.
On January 18, the Atesh guerrilla movement reported the discovery of a sunken Tarantul patrol boat in the Hrafskyi Bay of Sevastopol. According to satellite data provided by the partisans, the ship sank between December 28 and 31, 2023.
According to the statements of the Russian occupation authorities of Crimea, on December 29 and 30, 2023, the Russian military allegedly repelled the attacks of Ukrainian air and sea drones on Sevastopol.
"This confirmation of a previously unaccounted-for successful Ukrainian strike indicates that Ukraine‘s recent strike campaign against occupied Crimea may have been more successful than has been confirmed thus far by open sources," ISW analysts say.
The Institute for the Study of War adds that in the summer of 2023, the Ukrainian military launched a successful strike against the Russian Black Sea Fleet, forcing the Russian occupiers to withdraw their ships from their main base in Sevastopol.
Strikes on Crimea on December 28-30
On December 28, a series of explosions were heard near the Cossack Bay of Sevastopol. Before that, explosions were heard in the Crimean town of Krasnoperekopsk.
A loud explosion was also heard in Sevastopol on December 30. Then the occupation authorities claimed an attack by a surface drone.
