2022 drone attack on the Sevastopol Naval Base
| 2022 drone attack on the Sevastopol Naval Base | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2022–2023 Crimea attacks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine | |
| Date | October 29, 2022 4:20 (UTC+3) |
| Location | Sevastopol Bay, Sevastopol, Ukraine |
On 29 October 2022, there was a large-scale drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1][2]
Course of Events
On the morning of 29 October 2022, the Russian governor of Sevastopol in Russian occupied Crimea, Mykhailo Razvozhaev, announced the attack by drones on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, which are in the waters of the Sevastopol Bay. Rozvozhayev called this attack the largest since 24 February, the day Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. According to Razvozhaev, nine drones and seven autonomous marine unmanned aerial vehicles participated in the operation.[3]
According to the Russian TASS, at 4:20 a.m. on 29 October, a loud explosion was heard, after which several more "bangs" were heard. Telegram channels began to spread videos showing black smoke over Sevastopol and hearing explosions.[3]
Outcome
The Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that as a result of the attack, the minesweeper "Ivan Golubets" was damaged, as well as the barrage in Yuzhnaya Bay. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the attacked ships were "involved in ensuring the security of the grain corridor as part of the export of food from Ukrainian ports".[4]
Ukrainian telegram channels reported that 4 Russian warships may have been damaged during the attack, including the Admiral Makarov frigate, from which Russian troops launched Kalibr missiles at targets on the territory of Ukraine. From this ship, in particular, an attack was made on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022.[5]
GeoConfirmed analysts believe that between 6 and 8 drones were involved in the attack on the Russian ships and that they hit at least three ships; two naval drones were most likely destroyed.[6]
Reaction
After the attacks, the Russian authorities decided to block the residents of Sevastopol from accessing broadcasts from the city's surveillance cameras, saying that they "give the enemy the opportunity to detect the city's defense systems."[7]
Russia blamed Ukraine and the United Kingdom for the attack,[8] Representatives of the Russian authorities said that the attack was carried out "under the leadership of British specialists located in the city of Ochakiv, Mykolaiv region of Ukraine."[9] At the same time, the Russians stated that this same unit of "British specialists" was involved in the "terrorist act in the Baltic Sea" when the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines were blown up. Representatives of Great Britain called these statements "a lie of an epic scale.".[10]
In response to the attack, Russia announced the "suspension" of participation in the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.[8] Before these events, Ukraine warned about Russia's plans to withdraw from the "grain agreement".[11]
See also
- 2022–2023 Crimea attacks
- Starlink satellite services in Ukraine, likely used for the attack[12]
References
- ^ Rogoway, Howard Altman, Stetson Payne, Tyler (29 October 2022). "Ukraine Unleashes Mass Kamikaze Drone Boat Attack On Russia's Black Sea Fleet Headquarters". The Drive. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Ozberk, Tayfun (30 October 2022). "Analysis: Ukraine strikes with Kamikaze USVs - Russian bases are not safe anymore". Naval News. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Россия заявила об атаке украинских дронов на Черноморский флот в Севастополе. Что известно" [Russia announced the attack of Ukrainian drones on the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. What is known:]. BBC News (in Russian). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "В Севастополе закрыли водную переправу после серии взрывов" [In Sevastopol, the water crossing was closed after a series of explosions]. Radio Free Europe (in Russian). 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Callaghan, Louise (29 October 2022). "Russian naval base 'hit by massive drone attack'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "GeoConfirmed: Беспилотники в севастопольской бухте поразили минимум три российских корабля" [GeoConfirmed: Drones in Sevastopol Bay hit at least three Russian ships]. The Insider (in Russian). Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Razvozhaev, Mikhail (29 October 2022). "Жителям Севастополя закроют доступ к трансляциям с камер наблюдения после атаки беспилотников на корабли Черноморского флота" [Residents of Sevastopol will be denied access to broadcasts from surveillance cameras after a drone attack on ships of the Black Sea Fleet]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 30 March 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Порт Севастополя атаковали беспилотники. Россия обвинила в атаке Украину и Великобританию — и объявила о выходе из «зерновой сделки»" [The port of Sevastopol was attacked by drones. Russia blamed Ukraine and the UK for the attack - and announced its withdrawal from the "grain deal"]. Meduza (in Russian). 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ "Россия бессрочно приостановила "зерновую сделку" с Украиной. Поводом назвали атаку на Севастополь" [Russia has permanently suspended the "grain deal" with Ukraine. The reason was called the attack on Sevastopol]. BBC News (in Russian). 29 October 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ Gardner, Timothy; Lewis, Simon (30 September 2022). "U.S. has much to gain from Nord Stream damage, Russia says at U.N." Reuters. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Росія призупиняє участь в "зерновій угоді". Усе через "атаку" на Севастополь" [Russia suspends participation in the "grain agreement". All because of the "attack" on Sevastopol]. BBC News (in Ukrainian). 29 October 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "How Elon Musk's satellites have saved Ukraine and changed warfare". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
