Satellite images suggest possible reconstruction of destroyed Russian ship Askold in Crimea

The Ukrainians have been effective in striking the Black Sea Fleet, with 12 Russian ships hit so far, eight of which have been destroyed. The missile corvette Askold was one of the ships that fell under the barrage of Ukrainian gunfire. Despite numerous indications suggesting its permanent loss after being destroyed in November 2023, the Russians might have plans for the ship.

The ship's location in a dry dock could hint that Russian forces are considering its reconstruction. Although the satellite images reveal the ship's position in the dry dock, the details of ongoing work remain hidden. The images' clarity is further hindered by unique structures the Russians use to cover the damaged parts of the ship.

Judging from the images taken after the attack, one might doubt the possibility of refurbishing the ship. A more plausible situation might involve a comprehensive evaluation of losses to see what parts survived and could be salvaged for potential use in other vessels.

The Askold is a 22800 Karakurt missile corvette. Among the newest in the Russian fleet, such ships have been in service since 2018.

The Askold was destroyed using SCALP-EG manoeuvring missiles provided to Ukraine by France. These missiles can hit targets up to about 311 miles away. Each rocket is over 16 feet long and weighs approximately 2866 pounds - 990 pounds, which is allocated to the BROACH (Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge) warhead.

These missiles feature advanced inertial and satellite navigation systems and are known for their precision. Ben Wallace, the former UK Minister of Defense, once credited the weapon with striking Russian targets "almost flawlessly".