Russian naval ship stationed in occupied Crimea destroyed by Ukrainian forces

ADVERTISEMENT

A Russian naval ship stationed in occupied Crimea was damaged in an airstrike by Ukrainian forces, Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed Tuesday.

Photos and videos shared on social media show that “Novocherkassk” was destroyed and the wreckage was scattered hundreds of metres around.

The 112-metre (360-foot) ship was capable of transporting 10 tanks and about 225 servicemen.

The Ukrainian army says it has been recently used to transport weapons and soldiers to the Zaporizhzhia region, partly held by Russian forces.

In southeast Ukraine, Kyiv’s troops have retreated from a city in the Donetsk region, Marinka, according to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhnyas.

He was commenting on claims made by Moscow that the Russian army had completely captured Marinka.

Zaluzhnyas said there was nothing controversial about the retreat: “This is a war, so the fact that we have now retreated to the outskirts of Marinka and set up positions behind Marinka in some areas is nothing that can cause any public outcry. Sadly, this is what war is like.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to bury its dead. On Tuesday the widow of a 31-year-old Ukrainian soldier was joined by relatives and friends in the Ukrainian city of Irpin to mourn his death.

The congregation gathered for the funeral service of Yuriy Antonenko, 31, after he was killed in fighting near Marinka.

The ceremony was attended by Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, who said the city was hosting three to four funerals per week.

Markushyn said the present moment was a “turning point” for Ukraine, describing it as a fight for the country’s existence.