The recent attack on the Ivanovets, a Russian missile-carrying warship, is “highly likely” to force Russian commanders of the Black Sea Fleet to reevaluate their command-and-control procedures and their ability to safely maneuver near western Crimea, British military intelligence officials said Tuesday.

On Feb. 1, the Ivanovets was patrolling Crimea’s western coast when it was hit by a swarm of drone vessels, resulting in a large explosion that “almost certainly” sank the ship, British military officials said on social media in their latest assessment of the state of the war in Ukraine.

“The latest Ukrainian success highlights the continuing vulnerability of Russian warships operating in the Black Sea,” the U.K. officials said.

The Ivanovets was using a sophisticated “light bulb” computer uplink that allowed it to send and receive targeting data to and from other ships, helicopters and long-range patrol aircraft, officials said.

Ukrainian forces are believed to have sunk or heavily damaged more than 20 Russian warships and large boats since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in February 2022. But despite Kyiv’s latest successful attack, the Russian Navy is “almost certainly” still able to conduct its three main tasks in the Black Sea — long-range strikes, patrols and support — British officials said Tuesday.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.