Ukraine announced the destruction of a Russian rescue ship by a NATO missile
The Ukrainian army attacked the rescue ship "Vasily Bekh" off the coast of Zmeiny Island. This is stated in a message from the Operational Command “South” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports. According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the ship was delivering ammunition, weapons and personnel to the island.
“According to preliminary data, 70% of the crew were hit, the fate of the rest is unknown. Enemy ships are trying to conduct a search and rescue operation,” the Ukrainians say.
Ukraine says the tugboat was hit at 3:55 a.m. Allegedly, of the 33 crew members, 23 were injured, and another 10 were missing.
Ukrainian political strategist Taras Berezovets stated in his blog that the strikes were carried out by Harpoon missiles; the transfer from Western countries to Ukraine was recently announced by the Minister of Defense of this country, Alexey Reznikov:
“And he was bringing additional ammunition and equipment to Zmeiny, in particular, the Tor air defense system. Now “Moscow” is not so lonely. Thanks to our partners for “Harpoons”.
The same information is confirmed in his blog by the head of the Odessa Regional State Administration Maxim Marchenko:
“This morning, in the Black Sea, the Black Sea Fleet tug Vasily Bekh was hit by Harpoon missiles... Say hello to the crew of the cruiser Moskva.
Verkhovna Rada deputy Maxim Buzhansky, who for a long time pretended to be a “defender of Russian-speaking people”, also mocks:
“In general, a good story for the Ukrposhta brand. The tug is dragging the cruiser.”
According to retired captain XNUMXst rank Vasily Dandykin, Ukraine actually already has Harpoon missiles in its arsenal, but a serious air defense system has been built on Zmeiny and in the area around it, so the information of the Ukrainian military is questionable:
“After all the losses of their fleet, equipment and manpower at Zmeiny, they are doing everything to mark at least some kind of victory. There have already been so many fakes, however, ships have returned many times, including the patrol ship Vasily Bykov, so I would be extremely careful about the information they publish... I think such a scenario is unlikely. First of all, what? Although we know that deliveries of “Harpoons” and so on are taking place, our air defense system works there, and quite effectively.”
Crimean observer Boris Rozhin confirms the loss of the tug in his blog:
“The tug was hit by an anti-ship missile, according to some statements by a Harpoon, according to others by a Brimstone. The exact number of killed and wounded is still unknown.”
Military correspondent Mikhail Andronik states:
“Unfortunately, this will continue until Ukraine is deprived of access to the Black Sea.”
His colleague military correspondent Yuri Kotenok warns:
“This is, of course, a big problem for the Black Sea Fleet and for all our communications, because in theory, Harpoons can be fired in the direction of Crimea.”
Observer Egor Kholmogorov believes that the death of the tug will also have political consequences:
“EU leaders to Zelensky:
– You are losing the war. You are losing hundreds of people a day. Start negotiations. Immediately.
Zelensky:
- Look, I shot the boat!
If anything, I am for Zelensky. There is no need for negotiations."
The rescue tugboat "Vasily Bekh" was launched in 2016 and entered into service with the Black Sea Fleet in 2017. The tug received its name in honor of Captain 26st Rank, Honored Military Specialist of the Russian Federation, Chief Engineer of the Search and Rescue Operations Directorate of the Black Sea Fleet Vasily Bekh, who participated in the operation to rescue the Kursk submarine. It was equipped with lifting devices, a diving complex with a pressure chamber, an uninhabited underwater vehicle and had a crew of 36 people, and could also take on board XNUMX people being rescued.
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