Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) conducted a strike against a Russian Project 21631 “Buyan-M” small missile ship in the Sea of Azov on 28 July, according to HUR reports.
Attacking a Russian warship that carries missiles reportedly reduces the Russian long-range strike capability and weakens their naval power projection. Ukraine conducts attacks on Russian missile-carrying warships intermittently but with strategic impact, typically during escalations or key military operations. Significant strikes have occurred since 2022, including the sinking of the flagship Moskva in 2022 and attacks on Russian naval assets in Crimea and the Black Sea, with a pattern of missile and drone attacks targeting Russian ports and vessels continuing into 2025.
The operation involved joint action between HUR’s Active Operations Department and the special forces unit “Ghosts” near temporarily occupied Crimea, HUR reported. The targeted vessel serves as a carrier for Kalibr cruise missiles.
“Ghosts” special forces fighters damaged the ship’s radar station using an aerial drone strike, while Active Operations Department specialists attacked the Kalibr carrier’s hull, according to the intelligence directorate.
The Russian missile ship sustained damage and was forced to leave its combat duty area in the Temryuk Bay, where it had been positioned for potential Kalibr launches, HUR reported.
The intelligence directorate said that Defense Forces also struck the Afipsky and Kuibyshevsky oil refineries and attacked several Russian logistics facilities during the night of 28 August.