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Russia Reportedly Dismantles Captured Ukrainian Warship in Sevastopol to Maintain Its Aging Fleet
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Russian forces are dismantling the Ukrainian Navy’s former landing ship Konstantin Olshansky for parts in Sevastopol, according to a report by the guerrillas of Atesh, which conducted reconnaissance of the port’s Yuzhnaya Bay on June 6.
The Olshansky, once part of Ukraine’s fleet, is now being used as a “donor” ship to support other aging Russian vessels, Atesh agents reported.
Components and equipment are regularly stripped from the ship in what appears to be a desperate effort to keep Russia’s deteriorating Black Sea Fleet operational.
“This is a direct indicator of the dire technical state of the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” the Atesh report said.
“Due to sanctions, Ukrainian missile strikes, and disrupted logistics, Russian forces are no longer able to carry out full repairs or replace ships. Using decommissioned vessels as floating parts warehouses has become the new normal — and Olshansky is just one example.”
The Konstantin Olshansky was seized by Russia during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and has since spent nearly a decade being stripped and neglected.
In March 2024, the ship was struck by a Ukrainian Neptune missile, effectively rendering it inoperable and ending any hopes of restoring it to combat status.
In addition to the Olshansky, Atesh reported the presence of other auxiliary fleet vessels in the bay, including the floating workshop PM-138 and the hospital ship Yenisey. These targets, the group noted, are now under observation and may be prioritized in future Ukrainian strikes.
Earlier, Russia formally launched the first of its new Project 11711M “Kaiman” amphibious assault ships in an attempt to replenish severe losses in the Black Sea—yet the launch appears more symbolic than operational.
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
