The BBC reports that Russia says that Ukraine carried out a “massive” drone attack on Saturday on the Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, damaging one warship. Nine drones were used, a top official said. Unconfirmed sources claim that several of the Russian ships from the fleet were blown up, including the frigate Admiral Makarov. A Russian official in Crimea said that the drone attack was repelled, while Ukraine has not commented.
In an apparent response to the drone attack, Russia announced on Saturday that it is suspending its participation in a United Nations-brokered deal to secure the export of Ukrainian grain out through the Black Sea. According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Moscow is exiting the grain deal for an “undetermined period.”
Drone attack in Crimea’s Sevastopol; Russia backs out of Ukraine grain deal
Russia has simultaneously claimed launch from Odesa and from sea lanes established for transit of grain ships.
Perhaps both are true? But here’s where Russia is instantly reminded of the costs of concertedly (and clumsily) lying. Not least, lies intended for internal consumption naturally leak into external ears, and those lies are so absurd as to be powerfully destructive on the country’s credibility elsewhere. It’s a true conundrum for the “government” of Russia; keeping the population onside means losing the overall information war.
At this stage, what fool would believe any claim by Russia? The well of Russia’s credibility is bone dry.
Here is a link to damage reports as good as any I have seen, but I am not able to independently verify. Three ships were hit including the newly designated flagship Makarov, a minesweeper and something else. Russian ships will not want to be crowned flagship any more. There is a video showing the explosive drone boat hitting the Makarov from onboard the boat. For some reason the video stops at the moment of impact.
https://news.yahoo.com/sevastopol-unmanned-surface-vehicles-hit-051052181.html