Ukraine strikes Russian ships in Sevastopol, claims military success

On March 24th, Ukrainian forces reportedly struck two Russian landing ships, the Yamal and Azov, in Sevastopol. This was shared by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on social media, but Russian authorities have yet to confirm the occurrence of any attack.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine disclosed on Telegram and the X platform (formerly Twitter) that their forces had successfully targeted enemy units in Sevastopol, which is situated on the Crimean Peninsula.

Despite the lack of acknowledgment or denial from the Russian side, the incident appears to have happened, as indicated by the Nexta agency, reporting a significant explosion in Sevastopol.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces achieved a direct hit on the large landing ships Yamal and Azov, a communications node, and several Russian Black Sea Fleet infrastructure facilities in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol, according to a statement published on social media.

The extent of damage inflicted on the Azov and Yamal ships remains unconfirmed by the Ukrainians.

Both ships have their origins in the Gdansk shipyard—with the Yamal built in 1987 and joining the Black Sea Fleet a year later, and the Azov constructed in 1990. After upgrades, including the experimental Fort universal multiple-channel missile system, the Azov became a unique presence in the Black Sea Fleet.

The Yamal is a 369-foot vessel capable of achieving speeds up to 18 knots, transporting as much as 551 tons of equipment and cargo, and housing 225 marines. Similarly, the Azov measures 369 feet in length, with space for 87 crew members.

In addition to the ships, the Ukrainians report hitting crucial enemy infrastructure, a fact reinforced by OSINTtechnical on the X platform (Twitter).

During a missile strike on the temporarily occupied Crimea, three Storm Shadow missiles reached their targets, possibly impacting the main communication center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. Satellite images were provided as evidence, as reported by the bielsat.eu page.