Ukrainian Navy ship sinks in the Black Sea
The Ukrainian Navy ship "Balta" is in distress in the Black Sea during a strong storm near Zmeiny Island. According to the latest information, several compartments of the Balta, as well as engines and generators, are flooded, the Ukrainian Military Portal reports.
Information about the emergency was confirmed by the press service of the commander of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, calling the incident an “emergency situation” due to damage to the ship during a storm, which “was stabilized.”
“A decision was made to anchor the ship in order to ensure the implementation of measures to combat survivability... Eight ships and boats and four aircraft were involved in the operation... There is no threat to the lives of personnel. There is no threat of losing the vessel,” the Ukrainian Navy assures.
Other information was published by Verkhovna Rada deputy from Petro Poroshenko’s party, General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mikhail Zabrodsky. He insists that there is a threat to the lives of the crew members, at least two compartments are flooded, and the ship has lost speed.
Valentin Tkachuk, a representative of the Ukrainian organization Black Sea Community, said in a comment under the message that rumors about the accident at Balta had been circulating since the very morning, but the command of the Ukrainian Naval Forces broke the silence only in the evening, “after pressure.”
The head of the Ukrainian Military Portal, Taras Chmut, critically evaluates the emergency situation with Balta.
“One of the most active vessels of our fleet, regularly performing tasks at sea, providing troops on the island, participating in international exercises and combat training events.
Last year, for the first time in many years, the ship underwent dock repairs in Nikolaev at the Nibulon plant. The hull, waterline, outboard fittings and many other systems and mechanisms were restored.
Rescue efforts are currently ongoing by the Navy and Maritime Search and Rescue Service. The Islands, Simferopol, the rescue tug Sapphire and three boats PRK-01, 04 and 06 are operating in the area. The work is complicated by bad weather and strong winds, but the situation is under control. There is no threat to the crew.
Unfortunately, the only rescue ship of the Ukrainian Naval Forces, the Alexander Okhrimenko, is undergoing scheduled repairs in Nikolaev. Another confirmation that there should always be a reserve and redundancy in case of emergency situations,” comments Chmut.
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