Ukraine attacks Russian Black Sea fleet ship, Moscow claims

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) — Russia on Sunday claimed that Ukraine mounted an attack on a ship in its Black Sea fleet, tasked to ensure the safe operation of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines.

"Today, at about 01:30 Moscow time (2230GMT), the Armed Forces of Ukraine made an unsuccessful attempt to attack the Black Sea Fleet's ship Priazovye, which is performing the tasks of monitoring the situation and ensuring security along the routes of the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines," said a Defense Ministry statement.

It claimed that the Priazovye destroyed all attacking Ukrainian boats without suffering any damage and that there were no casualties among its crew.

"During this period, as during previous similar attacks, the United States Air Force's RQ-4B Global Hawk strategic reconnaissance drone conducted reconnaissance in the airspace of the central Black Sea," the statement further claimed, adding that the ship continues to "fulfill its tasks."

Ukrainian officials have not yet responded to the statement.

Last month, Russia claimed that Ukraine attacked Ivan Khurs, another ship of its Black Sea fleet tasked with ensuring the two pipelines' safe operation.