Britain has been blamed for the dramatic destruction of a Russian landing ship in annexed Crimea on Boxing Day.
Political analyst Sergey Markov, a Vladimir Putin supporter, claims the UK supplied a Storm Shadow missile that was responsible for obliterating the Novocherkassk landing ship. It was thought to be carrying munitions at the time.
The vessel was hit in Crimea yesterday. Markov told MailOnline: “In fact, it was not Ukraine, but Britain that struck the port of Feodosia.
“This is a war between Britain and Russia at the hands of the Ukrainian proxy army. And Britain will continue this war because Russia does not answer to Britain.”
Markov cited “British missiles” and “British and American satellite” systems. He also said it was a “joint British-American-Ukrainian decision to strike”.
Footage emerged on social media yesterday showing a huge fireball in the sky after the Storm Shadow strike. Kyiv has claimed responsibility for the attack, as reports suggest dozens of people had been killed.
The Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported: “As we are informed, there are dozens of dead and wounded on the Novocherkassk landing ship. Ambulances are rushing back and forth.”
The governor of Crimea – which is occupied by Russia but officially in Ukraine – confirmed at least one person had been killed and six buildings were forced to be evacuated as a result of the explosion.
Markov
The attack was the latest in a series that has seen Russia ships on the Black Sea targeted. A video recorded from the region shortly after the incident shows two men who were shaken in their beds.
It caught the moment a large explosion sent fire and smoke billowing into the sky. One of the men could be heard saying it was “a ship for sure”.
Unconfirmed reports say the fire on Novocherkassk lasted 30 minutes. The vessel carries around 87 men.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the strike. He said: “Grateful to our Air Force for the spectacular addition of another vessel to the Russian sunken Black Sea Fleet.”
It is not clear what happened to the ship after the Boxing Day blast. But windows in nearby residential blocks were destroyed and families evacuated.
Commander of Ukraine’s air force, Lt-Gen Mykola Oleshchuk, alleged that the major Russian Navy vessel Novocherkassk had been hit. Writing on Telegram, he said: “And the fleet in Russia is getting smaller and smaller! Thanks to the Air Force pilots and everyone involved for the filigree work.”
Sergey Aksyonov, Putin’s head of Crimea, confirmed one person had died and two were wounded. He did not say whether the ship had been destroyed.
Shortly after the attack, he added: “An enemy attack was carried out in the Feodosia area. The port area is cordoned off. At this moment, the detonation has stopped and the fire has been localised.”
There are uncomfirmed reports the missile was from either Britain or France. The Novocherkassk is said to be one of the few ships Russia had not moved further east.
Last month, in another blow to Putin, Russia’s newest ship Askold was destroyed in Kerch before it became operational. Meanwhile a strike destroyed the Sevastopol headquarters of Putin’s Black Sea Fleet on 22 September.
Defence secretary Grant Schapps, said: “This latest destruction of Putin’s navy demonstrates that those who believe there’s a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong! They haven’t noticed that over the past 4 months 20% of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has been destroyed.
“Russia’s dominance in the Black Sea is now challenged and the new UK & Norway led Maritime Capability Coalition is helping to ensure Ukraine will win at sea.”