Ukraine claims to have destroyed a troop landing ship in a port in the Sea of Azov | International
The Ukrainian navy claims to have destroyed on Thursday a Russian troop landing ship docked in the port of Berdyansk, in the south of the country, and controlled by the Russian Army. A statement from the Ukrainian navy maintains that it is the landing ship Orsk of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy. Two loud explosions were heard near the city of Berdyansk at 0640 local time (one hour less in mainland Spain). “The large landing ship ‘Orsk’ of the occupiers’ Black Sea Fleet”, the Ukrainian Army stated on its Twitter profile, “was destroyed in the captured Russian port of Berdyansk. Glory to Ukraine!”
❗❗❗Ранок починається з гарних новин!
В захопленому Рф Порту бердянськ знищено великий десантний корабель «Орск» чорноморського флоту 🇷🇺окупантів.
Слава Україні!🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/JladHhuhJ8— 🇺🇦Armed Forces (@ArmedForcesUkr) March 24, 2022
A few hours after the first information and videos with the explosions on the ship, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, according to the Reuters agency, has stated that they successfully attacked the ship. No independent source has been able to ascertain how the attack took place or the cause of the explosions and fire in the Orsk.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, which quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Zvezda television channel, this ship transporting troops and military material, such as armored vehicles, belonging to the Black Sea Fleet was the first to dock in Berdyansk this Monday, March 21.
Experts in intelligence analysis have been able to verify the images broadcast on social networks of the burning boat. However, the information has not been confirmed by the Russian government, which does not usually comment on their casualties.
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***UPDATE***#Russian ammunition explosions this morning in #berdyanskgeolocated to 46.749590°, 36.773788°
Ropucha Class landing ship seen sailing away from fire
Alligator class also observed near fire.Waiting info pic.twitter.com/0xlt4rfFL0
— HI Sutton (@CovertShores) March 24, 2022
The port of Berdyansk, on the Sea of Azov, is of strategic importance to the Russian invaders as a key point for getting ammunition, military equipment and soldiers to southern Ukraine. Berdyansk is 70 kilometers southwest of Mariupol, a city currently besieged by the Russians and where heavy fighting has been going on for several days.
In Berdyansk, with a population of 115,000, the Russians have been met with protests from the civilian population. Since February 24, Russia has been waging an invasion war against Ukraine with heavy air and sea bombardment and heavy artillery attacks. The attacks have not been limited to military objectives but have also affected residential buildings as well as buildings that served as shelters for civilian personnel.
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