The Karakurt-class Askold, launched in 2021, was damaged when Ukraine attacked the Zaliv shipyard in occupied Crimea at the end of last week, the UK defence ministry said in its latest Intelligence Update on the Situation in Ukraine.
It added that "Ukraine's capability to hit Crimean shipbuilding infrastructure will likely cause Russia to consider relocating farther from the front line, delaying the delivery of new vessels."
Ukraine has said it struck a Russian missile carrier stationed in Kerch, in occupied Crimea, on Saturday, Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported.
Ukraine’s military said: "Confirmed. Russia's Askold missile carrier, the newest Karakurt-class ship with stealth technology, was damaged in a Ukrainian Armed Forces strike on the naval and port infrastructure of the Zalyv shipyard in temporarily occupied Crimea."
The strike "seriously damaged" the Russian ship, possibly beyond repair, according to the Ukrainian military.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Tuesday is day 622 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, news.sky.com, ukrinform.net
