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2022 Berdiansk port attack

Coordinates: 46°45′02″N 36°46′45″E / 46.7506°N 36.7792°E / 46.7506; 36.7792
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Berdiansk port attack
Part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Alligator-class landing ship Saratov on fire, with the Ropucha-class landing ships Caesar Kunikov and Novocherkassk steaming out of port after the attack
Date24 March 2022
Location
Berdiansk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine
46°45′02″N 36°46′45″E / 46.7506°N 36.7792°E / 46.7506; 36.7792
Belligerents
 Russia  Ukraine
Units involved
 Russian Navy

 Ukrainian Ground Forces

Casualties and losses

Sunk
Saratov[1][2]
Damaged
Tsezar Kunikov[1]
Novocherkassk[1]

At least 11 crew members killed (unconfirmed)[1]		 None

The Berdiansk port attack was a strike carried out by Ukrainian forces against Russian Navy ships moored in the Port of Berdiansk on 24 March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[3] The Alligator-class landing ship Saratov was sunk, and one of the two Ropucha-class landing ships took damage but was able to leave the port.[4][5]

At the time, it was the heaviest naval loss suffered by Russia during the invasion, and one of Ukraine's most significant successes.[6][7]

Background

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Saratov in Sevastopol, 2007

On 26 February 2022, Russian troops captured the Port of Berdiansk and the Berdiansk Airport.[8][9] By the following day, the Russian military had taken full control of the city.[10][11]

Beginning on 14 March,[12] the port was used as a logistics hub by the Russians to support their offensive in southern Ukraine and in particular the siege of Mariupol. On 21 March, Russian media Zvezda reported on the arrival of amphibious transports in Berdiansk. A Russian navy officer described it as "a landmark event that will open logistical possibilities to the Black Sea Navy".[13]

Attack

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The attack occurred at 7:45 on 24 March. Fire onboard the Alligator-class landing ship Saratov caused a large explosion, as the vessel was apparently laden with ammunition. Russia reported that the ship had sunk following a fire and explosions, but did not mention the Ukrainian attack.[14] The explosion caused damage to two nearby Ropucha-class landing ships, the Tsezar Kunikov, and the Novocherkassk. Both of these ships escaped the port while fighting their own fires, and later returned to Crimea. Other damage included large oil tanks on the pier and a nearby merchant ship that had been moored there since before the invasion, both of which were still burning the next day.[15]

Ukrainian officials claimed that the attack was carried out with a OTR-21 Tochka tactical ballistic missile.[6][5][1]

Aftermath

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Satellite imagery later confirmed the Saratov had sunk in the harbour, with its superstructure visible above the surface.[15] Unconfirmed reports suggested that eight crewmen were killed on the Caesar Kunikov and three on the Novocherkassk, but losses on the Saratov were not reported.[1]

British intelligence assessed that the sinking of the Saratov would damage the Russian Navy's confidence to operate close to the Ukrainian coastline.[16] As of 31 March, no further attempts to resupply with amphibious ships had been observed, according to the United States Department of Defense.[17]

At the time, the attack that sank Saratov was not mentioned by Russia. On 2 July Russia announced that the ship had been damaged by a missile strike and scuttled by its crew "to prevent detonation of the on-board munitions", and that it had been salvaged and would be towed to Kerch in Crimea.[14]

Both Novocherkassk and Tsezar Kunikov were later repaired and returned to service. On 26 December 2023 Novocherkassk was sunk and Tsezar Kunikov was destroyed on 14 February 2024.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Newick, Thomas (24 March 2022). "Russian Landing Ship Destroyed In Massive Explosion In Captured Ukrainian Port City". The Drive. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  2. ^ "Какое оружие Россия впервые применила на Украине". RIA. 4 April 2022. (Translation) On March 24, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired rockets at the port of Berdyansk, damaging two large landing ships. A strong fire broke out at the large landing ship "Saratov", as a result it had to be sunk at the pier. In fact, this shelling is the only more or less significant success of the Ukrainian military in the confrontation with the Russian fleet
  3. ^ Russian warship destroyed in occupied port of Berdyansk, says Ukraine - BBC News, 24 March 2022, retrieved 2022-04-05 – via YouTube
  4. ^ "Russian military ship destroyed in Berdyansk, Ukrainian Navy claims". CNN. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  5. ^ a b "Ukraine conflict: Large Russian ship, the Orsk, destroyed by Ukrainian military - reports". The Scotsman. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  6. ^ a b Filseth, Trevor. "Ukrainian Attack Sinks Large Russian Landing Ship". The National Interest. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  7. ^ "Ukrainian Attack Sinks Large Russian Landing Ship". Seven News. 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  8. ^ Шагабудтдинова, Эльмира. "Власти Бердянска заявляют о том, что вражеская техника заняла территорию бывшего аэропорта". 061.ua – Сайт города Запорожья (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Military vehicles of Russian Federation occupy territory of former Berdiansk airport". Interfax-Ukraine. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Ukraine crisis: Russian forces enter Sea of Azov port Berdiansk – report". The Jerusalem Post. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  11. ^ Yulia Zakharchenko (28 February 2022). "Бердянськ захопили бойовики, у Харкові та Сумах – тиша: Арестович про ситуацію в Україні". Fakty i Kommentarii. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  12. ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "Russian Amphibious Ships Arrive In Captured Ukrainian City". The Drive. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  13. ^ Santora, Marc (24 March 2022). "Ukrainian forces claim to destroy a Russian landing ship". The New York Times. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  14. ^ a b "Russia dredges up landing ship hit by Ukraine missile fire". BBC News. 2 July 2022.
  15. ^ a b Sutton, HI. "Satellite Images Confirm Russian Navy Landing Ship Was Sunk at Berdyansk". USNI. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  16. ^ "Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 27 March 2022". UK MoD. 2022-03-27. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  17. ^ "Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing". US DoD. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
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