Ukraine continues to face Russian ship attacks despite the reported death of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet commander. President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes the arrival of US Abrams tanks. Learn more about the situation and its implications.
Amidst the turmoil in Ukraine, the nation has found itself in a precarious situation. Despite Kyiv’s announcement of the demise of the commander of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet, Russian warships persist in launching attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky expresses his appreciation for the arrival of US Abrams tanks to bolster the country’s defence.
Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office/Reuters
Russian Ship Strikes Continue
Ukraine’s Navy spokesperson, Dmytro Pletenchuk, made a striking revelation on national television. He disclosed that Russian warships were still actively conducting strikes from the Black Sea. Drawing an analogy, he likened these operations to “a chicken running around without a head.” Pletenchuk went on to elaborate on the significance of this situation, stating, “At this moment, they (the Russian Navy) lost the person who actually manages all of this, and his staff, who manages the fleet together with him. This is a large grouping that requires a great number of managers to run all the processes to make it (the fleet) work as a single mechanism. Imagine that the core part of this mechanism becomes inoperable.”
Furthermore, Pletenchuk emphasised that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not directly oversee the operations of ships at sea. Instead, he relies on his admirals, who possess intricate knowledge of their resources, personnel, and deployment strategies. This development has raised concerns about Russia’s ability to maintain control over its naval forces in the region.
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces’ Bold Move
Pletenchuk’s comments follow a daring operation by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. They claim to have targeted the Black Sea headquarters in Sevastopol, resulting in the demise of Russian Adm. Viktor Sokolov and 33 other officers. This marks one of the most audacious attacks by Ukrainian forces on the occupied Crimea peninsula to date.
It is crucial to note that CNN cannot independently verify Ukraine’s claims regarding Adm. Solokov or the exact number of casualties. Efforts to obtain a response from the Russian defence ministry are currently underway.
Ukraine’s Persistence in Reclaiming Crimea
Ukraine’s determination to reclaim Crimea, which has been under Moscow’s control since 2014, remains steadfast. Ukrainian Defense Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov has described Crimea as a “logistics hub” for Russia. He affirms that the ultimate goal is the “de-occupation of Ukrainian Crimea.” To achieve this goal, Ukraine continues to target strategic Russian assets in the region.
Western Support Bolsters Ukraine
Western nations have played a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine’s underpowered forces against Russian aggression. This support includes not only defensive measures but also the capability to launch longer-range attacks beyond the front lines.
Moscow’s reaction to this Western assistance has been confrontational. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently accused the United States and other nations of being “directly at war” with Russia.
Arrival of US Abrams Tanks
In a significant development, the first batch of US Abrams tanks has arrived in Ukraine. Both the Pentagon and President Zelensky have confirmed this welcome addition to Ukraine’s military capabilities. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Charlie Dietz highlights the deterrence factor, stating, “The mere presence of Abrams tanks serves as a potent deterrent. By having these tanks in their arsenal, the Ukrainian army can more effectively discourage aggressive actions.”
These tanks have been long-awaited by Ukraine, providing a formidable ground component to the nation’s troops who have endured over a year and a half of conflict. President Zelensky sees these tanks as crucial in reinforcing Ukraine’s brigades.
The training of Ukrainian forces in operating the tanks began in May in Germany. After undergoing refurbishment and preparation for several months, the transfer of 31 tanks to Ukraine was officially approved last month.
Ongoing Attacks in Southern Ukraine
Following the Ukrainian strike on Sevastopol, a wave of Russian attacks has targeted the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa. Attack drones struck the city for over two hours, causing damage to port infrastructure in the Izmail district. These attacks came after earlier strikes that resulted in casualties and significant damage to the city.
Ukraine’s military has condemned these attacks as violations of international humanitarian law, targeting both military personnel and civilian infrastructure, including the power supply. Furthermore, these attacks are seen as a retaliatory response to the strike on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters.
Monday’s attack in Odesa resulted in substantial damage to the city’s port and power infrastructure, as well as granaries, warehouses, and private households in the suburbs. Efforts are underway to restore power to approximately 1,000 consumers.
Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office/Reuters
Russian forces employed a range of weaponry in the assault, including Iranian-made drones, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and a submarine. Ukrainian defense forces managed to intercept 19 drones and 11 missiles. Nevertheless, the debris from downed weapons damaged warehouses and private homes, with granaries suffering damage from hypersonic missile strikes.
Targeting Kherson Region
In addition to Odesa, Russian forces launched attacks on the nearby Kherson region, a major shipbuilding hub along the Black Sea. These attacks resulted in casualties, including the deaths of a 73-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman in the city of Beryslav. The region endured 87 attacks over the past day, targeting residential areas, medical facilities, educational institutions, and critical infrastructure.
The intense shelling by Russian forces has led to an exodus of civilians from the region, leaving only a fraction of the population in Beryslav. Approximately 100 children and their families have left the dangerous coastal communities of the Kherson region over the past two weeks.
As the situation in Ukraine continues to evolve, the international community closely monitors the developments and their implications for regional stability and global security.
