TWO Russian assault boats with crew on board have been destroyed by Ukrainian kamikaze drones in annexed Crimea.
The ships were reportedly carrying loaded armoured vehicles, including personnel carrier BTR-82.
Footage showed ‘Ukrainian kamikaze drones’ hit two Russian Navy boats
A sea drone approached the boats before a large explosion went off
The Russians are also alleged to have had Tor-M2 air defence systems on board the landing boats, for mobile cover of their group on the island and in the Black Sea.
Ukrainian media outlet TSN news wrote on messaging platform Telegram on Friday morning: “As a result of a night operation on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea, small landing ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation were damaged by soldiers.
“We are talking about boats of project 11770 (of the “Serna” class).”
It alleged the small amphibious boats, actively used by Russia during the occupation of Zmiiny Island to transfer military equipment and landing craft, were carrying a crew and loaded armoured vehicles.
Dramatic black and white footage showed the moment alleged Ukrainian kamikaze drones hit the Russian navy craft near Crimea.
A ship can be seen in the aim sight of a sea drone camera before a huge explosion goes off and destroys it.
It comes amid unconfirmed reports of a strike on a Russian barracks in Chornomorske, which were not mentioned in the initial statement by Kyiv’s military intelligence agency.
Russian Rybar channel said this attack by Neptune missile was thwarted.
It alleged four kamikaze drones attacked the 84ft-long Serna landing boats which can carry up to 92 troops or 45 tonnes of cargo in Uzkaya Bay.
Rybar said “the loss of even a few [Serna vessels] will affect the capabilities of the Russian Armed Forces” and “increases the likelihood of resuming landings of air defence forces in Crimea”.
Ukraine’s “invisible” underwater kamikaze drones, capable of carrying 1,000lbs of explosives, are Putin’s newest nightmare.
The $355k newly-designed Marichka 20ft torpedo-like weapons were only recently taken for a test swim, as Ukraine continues to develop unmanned marine assault weapons to threaten the Russian navy.
The ships were reportedly carrying a crew and loaded armoured vehicles
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