As of: March 30, 2024, 6:58 a.m
By: Felix Busjaeger
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The Russian reconnaissance ship “Iwan Churs” is in the harbor of the Sudanese city of Port Sudan on April 10, 2021. The ship is said to have been damaged in an attack on Crimea. (Archive image) © IBRAHIM ISHAQ/afp
Putin's navy has suffered another setback in the Ukraine war. The reconnaissance ship “Ivan Khurs” was probably damaged – that could have serious consequences.
Moscow/Sevastopol – At the beginning of the Ukraine War, Vladimir Putin's navy was considered quick-witted and could use its presence to control trade in the Black Sea. But just a few months after the start of the war, the Ukrainians sank or damaged warship after warship, showing that ingenuity in warfare can pose a threat to even Putin's highly equipped fleet. In March 2024, air strikes succeeded in destroying or severely damaging targets in Crimea. Among other things, the Russian reconnaissance ship “Ivan Khurs” is said to have suffered damage. Details of the extent are not known. This was preceded by a hunt for the ship that is said to have lasted up to a year.
Putin's warship probably damaged in attack on Crimea: likely consequences for war in Ukraine
The “Ivan Khurs” belongs to the Yuri Ivanov class and has been an important element of Russian naval warfare in the Black Sea since the outbreak of the Ukraine War. Equipped with techniques for surveillance and telecommunications reconnaissance of enemy control technology as well as electronic warfare, the warship from Russia is intended, among other things, to locate Ukraine's radar devices and missile batteries. As a result, Russian troops were able to act much more precisely and attack the Ukrainian positions.
It is therefore not surprising that the war effort in Kiev appears to have given a high priority to the destruction of the Ivan Khurs. As
Forbes
reports, defenders launched several drone boats at the warship last May but were unable to damage it. A little later, media reports showed that the reconnaissance plane returned to Sevastopol without serious damage. The hunt for the “Ivan Khurs” and a successful attack took almost a year.
Ukrainians hunted Putin's warship for a year: "Ivan Khurs" probably damaged at the stern
However, it is unclear how badly the “Ivan Khurs” was damaged in the attack on Crimea a few days ago. However, on Tuesday morning, March 26, Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk confirmed that the damage was greater and that the ship was “no longer combat ready.” This was reported by the Ukrainian military portal
Militarnyi,
among others
. Satellite images are said to show rear damage caused by a fire. The fact that Ukraine is celebrating the attack on the reconnaissance ship as a great success could, among other things, have something to do with the current situation in the Ukraine war.
The Russian army is said to be on the offensive on several fronts. According to the experts at the ISW (Institute for the Study of War), the developments of the past few weeks show more than ever that the defenders are dependent on Western support. Positive news about missions could still boost morale despite the difficult situation.
Because of the situation in the Ukraine war: Russia relocates fleet in the Black Sea
But even apart from the effect on morale, a damaged “Ivan Khurs” could be important for future military operations by the Ukrainians: almost a third of the Russian warships in the Black Sea are now said to have been damaged. For this reason, Russian troops have been trying for weeks to specifically attack Ukraine's coastal forces in order to prevent further attacks. As
Forbes
writes, preventing the Russians from mapping Ukraine's coastal forces is essential to continuing the Ukrainian attacks.
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Since the “Ivan Khurs” was not destroyed in the attacks on Crimea, further attacks could follow in the near future to prevent further Russian mapping. The Russian leadership also believes this is not unlikely. According to
Kyiv Independent
, Russia is currently moving large parts of its Black Sea fleet from occupied Crimea to the relative safety of Novorossiysk.
(fbu)