The Ukrainian military claims to have destroyed the Russian Alligator Class landing ship Orsk in the Ukrainian port city of Berdyansk, which Russia captured in late February.
“The destroyed ship in Berdyansk could carry up to 20 tanks, 45 armored personnel carriers, and 400 paratroopers,” the Ukrainian deputy defense minister, Anna Malyar, said in a statement on Thursday. “This is a huge target that was hit by our military.”
At least two Alligator-class landing ships are listed in active service in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet: the Orsk and the Saratov. The New York Times notes that the Ukrainian military said it had destroyed the Orsk, but it was not immediately clear from the visual evidence which ship was destroyed. Videos show other Russian ships, also appearing to have small fires with smoke rising, leaving the port while the Alligator-class vessel burns.
***BREAKING***
Now beyond any reasonable doubt that a #Russian Navy Alligator Class landing ship exploded in #Berdiansk, Ukraine
Reportedly a Ukrainian ballistic missile strike. Two Ropucha Class ships also present, observed sailing away as fire raged pic.twitter.com/eg8kXp6jfy
— H I Sutton (@CovertShores) March 24, 2022
Russian landing ship Orsk was destroyed, another lined up (location captured port of Berdyansk)