By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) reported a successful drone strike on a high-value Russian Black Sea Fleet vessel near Novorossiysk, disabling a Project MPSV07 multipurpose support ship valued at $60 million. The attack targeted the ship’s bridge, destroying navigation and surveillance systems, forcing it out of service and requiring costly repairs. This strike occurred while the Russian vessel was conducting electronic reconnaissance and patrolling the approaches to Novorossiysk Bay. The attack is part of Ukraine’s intensified use of domestically produced drones, following other successful operations against Russian assets, including a strike on a Russian military tugboat in Sevastopol Bay.
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Ukraine Cripples $60M Russian Warship Near Novorossiysk in Drone Strike – HUR, and it’s a significant development. Let’s break down what happened and why it matters. The target was a Project MPSV07 multipurpose support ship, a vital piece of Russia’s naval infrastructure, of which they only have four in their entire fleet. Think of it as a Swiss Army knife for the sea, designed for various tasks beyond direct combat.
The attack itself was carried out using drones, and the key takeaway here is the precision of the strike. The focus wasn’t on sinking the vessel, though that’s always a possibility, but on crippling its functionality. The drones targeted the ship’s navigation and communications systems, as well as its electronic surveillance equipment. In essence, the ship is now a big, expensive, and largely useless floating platform.
This attack highlights a crucial shift in the nature of modern naval warfare. It’s not always about brute force and sinking ships. It’s about disrupting an enemy’s capabilities, making them question their presence in the area and diverting resources. This is strategic damage, and a big win for Ukraine.
The financial aspect, the $60 million price tag, is also interesting. It’s easy to dismiss this as a drop in the bucket for a country like Russia, especially when considering their oil and gas revenues. But the impact is more complex than just the monetary value. It’s about resource allocation. Do they spend $60 million on replacing the ship, or do they divert those funds elsewhere? They have to deal with the consequences of their actions and make a decision.
The fact that the ship was a “modern vessel,” commissioned in 2015, means it likely housed some of Russia’s most advanced technology. Taking out the bridge would have essentially destroyed its surveillance, weapons control, navigation, and communication capabilities. The modern aspects of the ship means the cost to Ukraine was considerably less in the form of drones, as opposed to the millions of dollars of damage done to the ship.
One thing is clear: Losing ships, even support ships, to a country without a navy is embarrassing. It’s a demonstration of a degraded ability to operate and a constant reminder of their vulnerability. Each loss is a blow to Russia’s claim to be a world power, and they have few alternatives available given existing geopolitical constraints.
It’s also worth noting the specialized nature of this vessel. These support ships often carry equipment that is difficult to replace, and specialized repair work will be needed. This further hampers the Russian navy’s operational capacity and forces them to rethink their deployments and strategies.
The fact that it was a special purpose vessel and its function being for, say, repairing underwater cables, is vital to a modern naval fleet. Destroying this capability makes them vulnerable to losing vital support systems for their naval fleet in a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainty.
It also deters them from using that type of machinery again in close proximity and forces them to pull other military targets back out of range. This represents a win for Ukraine, by disrupting Russian’s presence, and forcing them to re-evaluate the deployment of other equipment.
The fact that Russia’s navy and air force has been degraded is a testament to the fact that Ukraine is hitting the right targets.
This attack, however, showcases the true power of asymmetric warfare. The Ukrainians are using relatively inexpensive drones to inflict significant damage on a high-value Russian asset. This forces Russia to shift manpower and resources away from the frontlines.
The real victory lies in disrupting assets and taking manpower away from the frontline, not the cost value.
They knew the drone wasn’t enough to go through hull armor, so they went for the expensive exposed equipment. The target was chosen for maximum damage with the little firepower they had.
These actions also serve as a deterrent. They make Russia think twice about deploying similar vessels in the same area. They may also push Russia to spend time and money on repairs, which could take a long time.
All in all, this drone strike is a clear illustration of how Ukraine is effectively using its limited resources to challenge Russia’s military capabilities and protect its interests.