Sevastopol: Unmanned surface vehicles hit Admiral Makarov, flagship of Russian Black Sea Fleet

UKRAINSKA PRAVDA – SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2022, 07:10

At least three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the Admiral Makarov flagship, were damaged as a result of the unmanned surface vessel [USV] attack on 29 October.

Source: GeoConfirmed, a volunteer-managed outlet mapping the war in Ukraine based on geolocations, on Twitter

Details: GeoConfirmed investigators have analysed footage from the unmanned surface vessels [USVs are speedboat-size vessels that can pack hundreds of pounds of explosives – ed.], which roamed the harbour and the sea near Sevastopol.

The investigators released footage of an attack on an Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate. They concluded that the Admiral Makarov is the only one that matches this description in the Black Sea. The footage stops when the USV hits the vessel and explodes.

In this video you see the attack on an Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate. According to @CovertShores (9 May 22) only the Admiral Makarov matches this class for the Black Sea fleet.

The footage stops when the USV seems to impact on the vessel, it likely exploded.

Video 08

19/ pic.twitter.com/vIlHCl4aOF

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) October 29, 2022

Some proof about the 2 🇷🇺ships being targeted by 🇺🇦. With high confidence we see a Grogorovich class frigate as the first target. According to @CovertShores (9 May 22) only the Admiral Makarov matches this class for the Black Sea fleet.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/aaIaAIa8PK

— JB Schneider (@JohnB_Schneider) October 29, 2022

Another video suggests that the Ivan Golubets, a Natya-class minesweeper, was also attacked. The Russian Ministry of Defence said that the minesweeper sustained "minor" damage.

In this video you can see the attack on a Natya class minesweeper, Soviet designation Project 266M Akvamarin.
According to Russian MOD the Ivan Golubets received "minor" damage.

The footage stops when the USV seems to impact on the vessel, the USV likely exploded.

Video 09

23/ pic.twitter.com/SC5ThNPP9I

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) October 29, 2022

One of the videos shows a USV roaming among the docked ships in the harbour, possibly looking for a target. The footage stops when the USV hits the vessel and likely explodes. The footage suggests that the USV was positioned next to at least four vessels and had made almost a complete U-turn to carry out the attack.

In this video you can see another USV roaming between the docked ships inside the harbor, probably looking for a target of opportunity.

The footage stops when the USV seems to impact on a vessel, the USV likely exploded.

Video 10

25/ pic.twitter.com/luIcwLcNCj

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) October 29, 2022

GeoConfirmed believes that all the available footage indicates that between six and eight USVs were deployed in the attack, hitting at least three Russian vessels.

GeoConfirmed said that Ukraine was operating the USVs.

Quote from GeoConfirmed: "Based on all available footage, it's highly likely that: 

1. USV's penetrated THE Sevastopol harbour defence
2. > 6 USV's were used
3. At least 3 ships were struck with an USV."

Background:

• On 29 October, explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula; Russian ships were allegedly "repelling a UAVs attack".
  
  
• The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had allegedly attacked Sevastopol with drones at 04:00 on 29 October. The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation confirmed the damage to the Ivan Golubets minesweeper.
  
  
• Russian Defence Ministry accused the British Navy for allegedly having planned and carried out "terrorist attacks" on the Nord Stream and Nord Stream-2 gas pipelines. The Ministry announced that preparations for the "attack" on Sevastopol were carried out under the guidance of members of the British Navy, who are allegedly currently in the Ukrainian city of Ochakiv.
  
  
• The southern defence forces of Ukraine suspect that failed launches of air defence missiles by the Russian invaders could be a reason for explosions in Sevastopol on Saturday.
  
  
• The Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for an indefinite period. 

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