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First-Ever Russian Naval Drone Attack Hits Ukrainian Ship Stationed in the Danube Delta
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian forces have struck one of the Ukrainian Navy’s ships in the Black Sea region, resulting in the death of one crew member and injuries to several others. Ukrainian officials confirmed the attack on August 28.
According to Ukrinform on August 28, citing Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk, the strike damaged the vessel, and efforts are underway to eliminate the consequences of the attack.
Pletenchuk stated that the majority of the crew are safe, while searches for several sailors continue. He added that one crew member was killed and several others were wounded.
Russian military sources claimed responsibility, stating that the attack was carried out using an uncrewed surface vessel in the Danube Delta.
They alleged that the target was the medium reconnaissance ship Simferopol. Ukraine has not officially confirmed the vessel’s name but acknowledged that the incident involved one of its Navy ships.
This marks the first recorded instance of Russian forces employing a naval drone to strike a Ukrainian warship.
The Simferopol is a medium reconnaissance ship of Project Laguna, designed as a radio-electronic intelligence platform based on the 502EM trawler project.
Built at the Kuznia na Rybalskomu shipyard in Kyiv, the vessel was launched on April 23, 2019, and entered service in 2021. The ship’s primary function is to conduct electronic intelligence and surveillance in support of the Ukrainian Navy’s operations.
Earlier on August 28, Ukraine’s military intelligence disabled a Russian Buyan-M Kalibr missile corvette in the Azov Sea, forcing it to withdraw from patrol duty after a two-stage drone and direct-fire strike.
