Ukraine reports destruction of Russian patrol ship using sea drone

The Ukrainian Navy has said it destroyed the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) 2nd-rank border patrol ship Izumrud near Novorossiysk using the Sargan-3000 maritime unmanned system, adding that members of the vessel's crew were killed and injured.

In an official statement, the Ukrainian Navy said that Izumrud had previously taken part in the confrontation in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018, when Russian forces seized three Ukrainian naval vessels.

"Izumrud was one of the vessels that took part in the attack on Ukrainian Navy ships in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018," the statement said.

The Ukrainian Navy noted that the patrol ship was launched in 2014 and was equipped with a helicopter landing platform.

According to the statement, Izumrud has a length of 62.5 metres, a displacement of approximately 630–750 tons, and a maximum speed of up to 27 knots.

By Vafa Guliyeva