Ukraine downs Russian landing ship 'Novocherkassk': Exposure of real human toll amid taunting remarks
On Tuesday, Ukraine reported that its air forces had obliterated the "Novocherkassk", a landing ship codenamed "Ropucha" by NATO. President Volodymyr Zelensky jocularly announced on social media that the vessel had now joined the "Russian Black Sea submarine fleet".
6:52 PM EST, December 26, 2023
Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov relayed on Tuesday that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu provided President Vladimir Putin with a comprehensive report on the extent of the damage to the ship. The Kremlin claims the incident was due to an "ammunition explosion", that triggered a fire and necessitated crew evacuation. The ship reportedly sank while being towed to port. Russia now confirms that it was Ukraine who destroyed the ship.
Following this successful strike in Crimea, taunting remarks were shared online. "The Russian navy can organize a game of assembling this puzzle in the form of a ship," quipped Anton Herashchenko, an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, on Platform X.
According to Kiev, Iranian drones intended for use in Moscow's conflict were being transported on the "Novocherkassk". The pro-Kremlin governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, reported that one person perished in the attack, four others suffered injuries, six structures sustained damage, and residents were evacuated.
Russian landing ship "Novocherkassk" attacked, Russia confirms
However, social media users suggest the losses are far more severe. "The 'Novocherkassk' ship explosion may have killed 87 Russian soldiers, including eight officers. These figures remain largely unofficial," said military expert Artur Micek.
Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Forces, expressed doubts about the feasibility of reinstating the Novocherkassk. The ship is capable of transporting tanks and armored vehicles, and doubling as an aircraft carrier. "Given the magnitude of the explosion and the nature of the detonation, the ship's survival is doubtful. It wasn't just a missile hit; it was an ammunition detonation," he told Radio Free Europe.
The "Novocherkassk", which had already been damaged in March during the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine but was returned to service, has a maximum cargo capacity of 500 tons. It can also carry 225 soldiers. Hence, the actual human toll resulting from the explosion may be significantly higher than what internet reports indicate.
