Photos Emerge of Destroyed Russian Landing Ship, the Novocherkassk, in Crimean Harbor

Update 12.27: On December 26, 2023, Novocherkask was struck by Ukrainian cruise missiles and damaged while it was in a naval base in the city of Feodosia in occupied Crimea. Videos posted to social media reportedly show very large explosions seen at the Feodosia port after the attack.

Russian officials confirm the attack, during which one person was killed and two injured, and described the ship as 'damaged'. Russian officials also claimed that two Ukrainian Su-24s were shot down by anti-aircraft fire during the attack. According to Ukraine's Air Force the vessel suffered secondary explosions and will be difficult to repair.

Surprisingly clear video of the secondary explosions that killed dozens of Russian sailors are circulating on Social Media: https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1739595465530683833?s=20

12.26: A large explosion out of Feodosia, Crimea has appeared on social media. Sources within the Ukrainian armed forces are taking credit for destroying one or more Russian warships, in the harbor. Crimea was Ukrainian until the Russian Army invaded in 2014.

On December 26, 2023, a large explosion was reported in the Crimean port of Feodosia, says Wikipedia. "Early indications would suggest that Novocherkask was the damaged or destroyed ship in what was likely a Ukrainian strike." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropucha-class_landing_ship

"Ukrainian missiles just sunk a 112 meter long (369 feet) Russian landing ship off the coast of Crimea." reports Visegrad 24, an ordinarily relaible Eastern European news source. The warship is said to be a Ropucha class landing ship.

The crew complement was around 90. It's unknown how many were aboard her at the time of the explosion early on the morning of December 26, 2023.

The Ropucha class landing ship was 369 feet in length, the length of a US frigate. She could carry 10 tanks and 340 soldiers.

The Project 775, NATO reporting name Ropucha class (Polish for Toad), is a class of landing ship (large landing ship in Soviet classification) built in Poland for the Soviet Navy. The ships were built in the Stocznia Północna shipyards in Gdańsk, Poland. They were designed for beach landings, and can carry a 450-ton cargo. The ships have both bow- and stern-doors for loading and unloading vehicles, and the 630 square metres (6,800 sq ft) of vehicle deck stretches the length of the hull. Up to 25 armored personnel carriers can be embarked.

Ukraine sank the 611 foot long Moskva on April 14, 2022. The Cruiser Moskva was the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet.