HUR leads successful operation to damage Russian missile carrier in Kaliningrad Oblast

According to HUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov, the Serpukhov – a small missile ship of project 21631 Buyan-M – was likely intended to be deployed in the Black Sea.

"Despite being a part of Baltic Sea Fleet, it was probably considered for transfer to the Black Sea, taking into account the losses of beleaguered Black Sea Fleet," he said during an interview with Radio Liberty.

The ship remains afloat, but equipment on board the vessel has been disabled and damaged, Yusov said. Their repair will take significant time.

"Its loss or incapacitation is a substantial loss for the enemy, because the ship has been in service only since 2015-16," he added.

The Serpukhov it is the fifth ship of its series, and is equipped with a launcher for 8 Onyx cruise missiles, with plans to add the capability to also launch Zircon and Kaliber cruise missiles.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet losses

Ukraine’s Armed Forces have sunk or disabled a third of the Russia’s Black Sea Fleet ships since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones destroyed the patrol ship Serhiy Kotov in the territorial waters of Ukraine near the Kerch Strait on March 5.

The following Russian ships were also damaged in March: