Russia Extracts Remains of Its Ship from the Black Sea, Sunk by Ukrainian Forces in December 2023

The Russian Navy has initiated the recovery of the remains of the large amphibious assault ship Novorossiysk, a Project 775 vessel, which is now deemed beyond repair.

According to OSINT expert OSINTtechnical, operations to lift the main parts of the large landing ship began in late October 2024.

Images showing the raising of the stern section of Novorossiysk suggest the ship’s decommissioning following a powerful explosion on board. The vessel was targeted by the Ukrainian Air Force on December 26, 2023, while docked in Feodosia, a city in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The attack resulted in a significant fire and subsequent explosion.

At the time of the strike, Novorossiysk was reportedly transporting hazardous cargo, likely munitions, which may have contributed to the explosion and its immediate sinking.

This incident marks the fifth loss of a large amphibious assault ship from the Russian Navy in the Black Sea. Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia had bolstered its Black Sea Fleet with additional landing ships, intending to use them for amphibious landings in Odesa.

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War in Ukraine

How Ukraine is Destroying the Landing Potential of the Russian Fleet, With 8 Ships Sunk or Damaged

Jun 21, 2024 17:03

The active operations of maritime drones by Ukrainian Defense Forces have forced the Russian Navy to continually relocate its vessels within the Black Sea, preventing permanent deployment at any naval base.

Additionally, the withdrawal of these ships from the Black Sea is complicated by the Montreux Convention, which allows Turkey, as the controlling state of the Bosporus, to impose restrictions on the passage of military vessels that could be utilized for military purposes.

The moment of the explosion on the Russian landing ship Novocherkassk in Feodosia, December 26, 2023:

The Russian Navy’s attempts to salvage Novorossiysk, which was confirmed destroyed by Ukrainian forces in December 2023, are ongoing. The ship was commissioned in 1987, and reports suggest that its restoration would incur substantial costs, estimated at approximately $85 million, although this figure may be higher according to various analyses.