Ukraine says Russia’s last naval patrol ship leaving occupied Crimea peninsula
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Kyiv has used missiles and naval drones to destroy or damage 27 Russian naval vessels.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KYIV - Ukraine's navy said on July 15 that Moscow's last naval patrol ship had left Russian-occupied Crimea, "most likely" to rebase elsewhere after Kyiv's concerted military campaign to attack the Black Sea peninsula as it battles the Russian invasion.
Though it has no major warships at its disposal, Ukraine has used missiles and naval drones to inflict significant damage
Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, Ukraine's navy chief, told Reuters earlier in July that Russia had been forced to rebase nearly all its combat-ready warships
"The last patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation is bolting from our Crimea just now. Remember this day," Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said on Facebook.
Asked to clarify whether this was a permanent move, Captain Pletenchuk told Reuters: "Most likely, this is a transition between bases", adding that Moscow did not usually send ships to the open sea for no reason.
He said the vessel's designation was Project 1135.
The Russian authorities have not responded to requests for comment in the past about Ukrainian claims of advances in the Black Sea.
Kyiv has destroyed or damaged 27 Russian naval vessels, Vice-Adm Neizhpapa said. In May, the Ukrainian authorities said they had destroyed the last Russian warship armed with cruise missiles that was stationed on the peninsula.
Moscow's setbacks in the Black Sea come at a time when Ukrainian ground troops are on the back foot across a sprawling front and in particular in the east.
President Vladimir Putin told navy chiefs in June that Russia's fleet had been replenished over recent years and that a major modernisation was under way, including steps to "increase the combat stability of the fleet" and strengthen it. REUTERS
