Russia Sinks Ukraine’s Reconnaissance Ship ‘Simferopol’ in Danube Delta with Sea Drone Strike – 1 Vessel Destroyed in Precision Attack
Russia sinks Ukraine’s reconnaissance ship ‘Simferopol’ in the Danube River delta with a sea drone strike, marking 1 major vessel destroyed in the escalating conflict
In a massive escalation, Russia wiped out Ukraine’s reconnaissance ship Simferopol with a sea drone strike in the Danube River delta on Thursday, the Russian Defence Ministry announced. The vessel, reportedly the largest vessel commissioned by the country in over a decade, was sunk with a naval drone in the Danube River delta in the Odessa Region, Russia Today reported, citing the defence ministry.
This marked Russia’s first successful use of a sea drone to destroy a Ukrainian naval vessel, Russian state media reported. The Laguna-class ship is designed for radio, electronic, radar, and optical reconnaissance. In the video shared by RT, the ship can be seen being blown into smithereens as the drone strike lands.
The Ukrainian Navy later confirmed the strike and reported the death of a crew member. “Efforts to address the aftermath of the attack are ongoing. The majority of the crew are safe, and the search for several missing sailors continues,” Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk told the Kyiv Independent.
A Laguna-class ship, Simferopol was launched in 2019 and joined the Ukraine Navy two years later. It is designed for radio, electronic, radar, and optical reconnaissance, armed with a 30 mm AK-306 artillery system. According to the WarGonzo Telegram channel, the vessel was the largest ship that Kiev has managed to launch since 2014.
Russia also hit military-industrial facilities and military air bases in what it called a big overnight “group strike” that had used hypersonic “Kinzhal” missiles, drones and high-precision air-launched missiles.
In a major escalation of naval hostilities, Russia has successfully targeted and sunk Ukraine’s reconnaissance ship ‘Simferopol’ through a precision sea drone strike in the Danube River delta. The strike marks one of the most significant maritime blows for Ukraine in recent months, as the vessel played a key role in intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations.
According to Russian defense sources, the attack was carried out using an unmanned sea drone equipped with explosives, which struck the hull of the Ukrainian vessel with high accuracy. The Simferopol, a reconnaissance ship in Ukraine’s navy, was reportedly patrolling in the Danube delta near the Black Sea when the strike occurred. Within hours, Russian media outlets confirmed that the vessel had been completely destroyed and sunk.
The Danube River delta has emerged as a critical flashpoint in the ongoing war. With shipping lanes, grain exports, and naval patrols concentrated in the region, both Russia and Ukraine have increased their military activity in the area.
The Simferopol was considered an important asset for Ukraine’s naval intelligence. Its role included:
Gathering intelligence on Russian naval movements in the Black Sea.
Coordinating surveillance missions along Ukraine’s southern coastline.
Providing reconnaissance support to protect commercial shipping routes and grain exports.
Military analysts note that the loss of the ship represents a serious setback for Ukraine’s maritime intelligence capabilities. It could hinder Kyiv’s ability to monitor Russian troop and vessel movements along the southern axis of the conflict.
The strike highlights Russia’s increasing reliance on unmanned sea drones as part of its evolving warfare strategy. These drones, capable of long-range operations and high-precision strikes, have been used to target naval vessels, ports, and logistics hubs. The attack on the Simferopol demonstrates how sea drones are becoming a central feature of naval warfare in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Experts believe this incident may further accelerate an unmanned arms race in the Black Sea and Danube regions, with both Moscow and Kyiv deploying increasingly sophisticated drone technology.
Ukrainian officials have not immediately confirmed the loss of the Simferopol, but military sources acknowledged that Russian forces have intensified drone operations in the Danube sector. Kyiv has previously accused Moscow of attempting to disrupt grain export routes through drone strikes, aiming to undermine Ukraine’s economic stability.
The Danube ports have become especially important since the Russian blockade of Black Sea ports. Any threat to shipping lanes in this region could have wider implications for global food supply chains.
The attack comes at a time when international observers are closely monitoring Russia’s tactics in the Black Sea and Danube delta, particularly after multiple reports of drone strikes targeting civilian and commercial infrastructure. Western analysts warn that such incidents may escalate tensions further, drawing in NATO states located along the Danube, including Romania, which has previously reported drone debris landing on its territory.
Read Also : Mumbai’s Sion Residents Face 12-Year Struggle as Compound Wall Construction Still Pending
