The small Russian ship with cruise missiles “Askold” was significantly damaged during the attack on Ukraine Crimea from November 4and may not be repairable, the Strategic Communications Office of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (StratCom) reported on November 6, reports Independent Kyiv.

Askold cruise missile carrier shot down by Ukrainians.Photo: east2west news / WillWest News / Profimedia

StratCom accompanied the announcement with a photo that appeared to capture extensive damage to the ship during the attack.

The Askold ship can carry up to eight Kalibr missiles, which Russian forces use to attack infrastructure in Ukraine. StratCom noted that the ship is part of the Russian Karakurt stealth technology project.

On November 4, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk announced that Ukrainian forces had struck a Russian ship with Kalibr missiles in Russian-controlled Crimea, without specifying its name.

A day later, Ukrainian Navy Captain Andrii Rienko reported in an investigation by the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty “Schemes” program that, according to satellite images, “Askold” was damaged during the attack.

“You can see it’s still floating, but the upper part of the ship is badly damaged,” Rienko said.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia confirmed that as a result of the Ukrainian strike, a ship located at a shipyard in the Crimean city of Kerch was damaged, Russian state media reported on November 4.

Also, a video recording, which allegedly shows the moment of the impact on the ship, began to spread on social networks.

“I hope another ship followed in the footsteps of Moscow!”

The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of Ukraine reported that the Russian Navy has deployed one of the most modern ships there – the Kalibr missile carrier.

During the current war, Moscow has frequently attacked Ukraine with Caliber missiles launched from Russian ships and submarines in the Black Sea.

“I hope another ship followed in the footsteps of Moscow!,. The Commander of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mykola Oleschuk, reported this in Telegram, referring to the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, which was sunk by Ukrainian missiles on April 14, 2022.

According to previous Russian state media reports, the ship, armed with Kalibr missile systems, Pantsir medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, and anti-aircraft artillery systems, is scheduled to be commissioned in the second half of 2023.

“Askold” did not even get to participate in hostilities, said the spokesman of the Air Force of Ukraine Yuriy Ignat.