The Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine released a video showing how the Russian amphibious assault ship “Cesar Kunikov” was sunk in the Black Sea by a wave of shelling by marine kamikaze drones.

“On February 14, the Main Directorate of Intelligence, in cooperation with all units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine, destroyed the large landing ship “Cesar Kunikov” of the Black Sea Fleet of the aggressor state of Russia. The task was carried out by special-purpose fighters of Group 13 of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine,” the intelligence agency, better known by the abbreviation GUR, reported.

The military intelligence of the GUR, headed by General Kyrylo Budanov, states that “the enemy ship was attacked by Magura V5 marine attack drones. It happened in the Black Sea, near the city of Alupka, located in the temporarily occupied Crimea.”

Footage released by GUR shows the ship being hit repeatedly by naval kamikaze drones, with the final footage showing the ship burst into flames and then tilting completely on its side before sinking.

“The search and rescue operation of the invaders was unsuccessful. Glory to Ukraine!”, the GUR also noted in its statement. A fully manned amphibious assault ship of the class would have 87 sailors and officers.

The ship “Cesar Kunikov” was sunk on the anniversary of the death of a Russian officer, after which it was baptized

“It is symbolic that the Russian officer, in whose honor the ship is named, was killed exactly 81 years ago,” the GUR statement said.

Caesar Kunikov was a Soviet naval officer who died on February 14, 1943, during an amphibious operation in the Battle of the Caucasus with Nazi forces. Posthumously awarded the “Hero of the Soviet Union” order.

Kunikov was 33 years old when he died in battle.

The Ukrainian press first reported on Wednesday morning that Kyiv troops had sunk the amphibious assault ship “Cesar Kunikov”, later this information was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

The attack on the ship is believed to have taken place overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, and other footage shows the Russian ship burning heavily at dawn.

The sinking of the Caesar Kunikov was the second Ukrainian success this month against the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, after they announced on February 1 that they had sunk the Russian missile corvette Ivanovets.

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