Ukraine Says It Destroyed Russian Warships

Ukraine’s General Staff said it destroyed three Russian warships during an attack on the port of Novorossiysk on Wednesday: the frigate Admiral Essen, the landing ship Pyotr Morgunov and the minesweeper Zheleznyakov. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry had previously reported that a fire broke out aboard the Admiral Essen after its superstructure was hit.

The Admiral Essen carries Kalibr cruise missiles, which Russia has regularly used to attack Ukraine. Wednesday’s attack was the second strike on the frigate in a month, following an earlier strike on 12 August.

Ukraine also reported an attack on Makhachkala in Russia’s Dagestan region. The city is home to Russia’s only deep-water port on the Caspian Sea and serves as a key transport and logistics hub for supplies from Iran. The Russian Caspian Flotilla has a base near the port, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.

According to DPA, Dagestan’s interim leader Fyodor Shchukin reported that falling drone debris had caused fires at port infrastructure and a theater in Makhachkala. No fatalities were reported.

(tasr, dpa)