Military intelligence releases nighttime video showing the sinking of the ship, believed to be the Ivanovets missile boat.

Ukraine says it used maritime drones to attack and destroy a Russian warship in the Black Sea near the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.

Military intelligence, known by its Ukrainian acronym GUR, released a video on Thursday that purportedly showed a naval drone strike on the missile-armed corvette Ivanovets the night before.

The grainy footage, which lasted about two and a half minutes and was accompanied by a dramatic soundtrack, showed a series of explosions and eventually the ship turning on its side. It ended with the ship sinking stern first into the sea.

“As a result of multiple direct hits to the hull, the Russian ship suffered damage that was incompatible with further movement,” the intelligence agency said in a statement accompanying the video, which appeared to consist of live feeds from the drones.

#practice

🔥 “Ivanovets” below – an enemy missile ship was destroyed as a result of a special operation by the GUR of the Ministry of Defense

🔗 https://t.co/b8MQb3KJrk pic.twitter.com/Tu6uuaF2rt

— Defense Intelligence Service of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) February 1, 2024

The GUR said the attack was carried out by its Group 13 unit and took place while the Ivanovets were on patrol at Lake Donuzlav in western Crimea. The lake was connected to the Black Sea by a canal in 1961.

There was no official response from Russia, whose Black Sea Fleet had previously been attacked by Ukraine, particularly with the Doom of the flagship Moskva in April 2022.

On that occasion, Moscow finally acknowledged the loss of the ship, saying the Moskva sank while being towed into port after an “ammunition explosion” caused a fire.

Ukraine said it sank the Soviet-era ship with a cruise missile, and the United States confirmed that claim.

It was not possible to confirm the Ivanovets’ sinking, but Russian military bloggers reported the area was attacked by naval drones during the night and the Ivanovets was hit.

Disinformation has become a key feature of the Warwhich celebrates its second anniversary on February 24, and it was not possible to independently verify the footage or claims.

Private security firm Ambrey said Ukraine used up to six maritime drones in the attack, each typically carrying 300 kilograms (660 pounds) of explosives.

A Western official also supported the Ukrainian account, telling the Associated Press news agency that it was “most likely that unmanned surface vessels were responsible for the attack on the Ivanovets.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.

The Ukrainian navy said the loss of the Ivanovets, believed to have a crew of about 40 sailors, was “significant” as Russia only has three ships of the same class in its Black Sea fleet.

Crimea, which was invaded and annexed by Moscow in 2014, is increasingly under attack from Ukrainian drones and missiles.

On Thursday, Russia said it had destroyed 20 Ukrainian missiles over the area.