Ukrainian Sabotage Operation Severely Damages Russian Ship In Baltic Sea

Russian Minesweeper — Image Credits: Wikipedia

A Ukrainian sabotage operation badly damaged the Russian minesweeping vessel Alexander Obukhov in Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

The attack damaged the ship, scheduled for combat duty, after water entered its engine, necessitating major repairs.

The incident is the second Ukrainian attack on a Russian warship in the Baltic Sea this year, per the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR.

The agency did not specify how the sabotage was carried out but did report that a hole in a gas duct caused water to seep into the ship’s M-503 engine, leaving it inoperable.

The engine is described as rare and difficult to repair, which has caused major delays and costs for Russia.

The minesweeper, Alexander Obukhov, based in the coastal town of Baltiysk, was supposed to begin combat operations before the sabotage was discovered.

The agency released a video on its social media handle showing the aftermath of the damage, including footage of the engine requiring repairs.

#працюєГУР
‼️ «Обухов» захлинувся ― черговий російський корабель виведено з ладу
👉 Внаслідок успішної операції ГУР МО України виведено з ладу тральщик балтійського флоту зс рф «алєксандр обухов».
🔗 https://t.co/3j1KMLJBMV pic.twitter.com/hFfkeDK4tA
— Defence intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) October 7, 2024

Video Credits: Defence intelligence of Ukraine/X

The agency has also claimed responsibility for an arson attack on another Russian warship in the region earlier this year.

There has been no official response from Russian authorities to the sabotage, which has occurred amid heightened tensions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Kaliningrad region between Lithuania and Poland is roughly 400 kilometres from Ukraine and is strategically important to Russia.

Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian missile ship docked in Kaliningrad, the Serpukhov, in April. According to reports, a member of the Russian Armed Forces helped with the operation.

Ukrainian officials claim that drone and missile strikes have severely disabled Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

The details of the sabotage on the Alexander Obukhov remain unclear, but the repairs are expected to be both technically difficult and expensive, per the Ukrainian military intelligence agency.

Reference: Reuters, Kyiv Independent

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