Explosion in the port of Crimea: Ukraine puts the oldest Russian naval ship out of commission

Explosion in the port of Crimea
Ukraine withdraws the oldest Russian warship from service

April 21, 2024, 5:53 p.m

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The Komona submarine recovery ship has been in service with the Russian Navy since 1915. That may change soon: the boat burned down in a Crimean port. According to Ukrainian information, the ship is now disabled.

A ship caught fire in the port of Sevastopol in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. Russian social media reported an explosion on board a ship, possibly caused by a missile or fighter drone collision. Video clips show flames and smoke rising from the ship.

There is currently no official statement from the Russian side. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it disabled the ship. Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletinchuk said the ship was “no longer able to carry out its missions.” The extent of the damage is currently being examined. Ukrainian armed forces have repeatedly attacked Russian ships around Crimea with various weapons systems in recent months.

The military services in Kiev said this afternoon that the ship is the Komona submarine recovery ship. The boat, launched in 1912, is probably the oldest active ship in the Russian Navy, having been in service since 1915 and thus serving in both world wars. Since then the ship has been rebuilt several times. after Information from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense It is said to be the only Russian rescue ship of this size in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, the Russian military attacked the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa with ballistic missiles from the Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian media reported that an explosion occurred in the city, wounding at least four people and damaging a number of residential buildings.