Ukraine’s military has caused a big problem for one of Russia’s most modern and expensive warships, making it almost useless in the ongoing war at sea. Ukrainian forces say that their actions have turned this Russian ship, worth about $5 billion, into “dead weight” that can no longer play a strong role in Russia’s navy.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has been going on for years since Russia started it in February 2022. Both sides have used advanced weapons, including drones and missiles, to target enemy forces at sea. Ukraine’s attacks have damaged several Russian warships, weakening Russia’s Black Sea navy and its ability to control the Black Sea waters.
One of the most famous moments in this sea war was in 2022, when Ukraine’s forces hit the Russian warship Moskva. The Moskva was the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea navy and one of its most powerful warships. Ukraine says its missiles hit the ship, which later caught fire and sank. This was a major loss to Russia because Moskva was a symbol of its naval strength.
Now, Ukrainian military efforts are focusing on newer Russian warships that were meant to give Russia a stronger naval edge. These modern warships were built with advanced technology and expensive systems, but Ukraine’s attacks have made them “dead weight,” meaning they can no longer complete their missions properly.
Ukraine has used a range of weapons to target Russia’s ships, including Neptune anti-ship missiles and unmanned sea drones. These weapons are harder to stop and can strike from a long distance, making it difficult for warships to defend themselves. The Ukrainian strategy has forced Russia to keep many of its naval warships far from the front line, reducing their power in the region.
A clear example is the Russian landing ship Tsezar Kunikov, which got targeted in early 2024. Ukrainian forces hit it near coast of Crimea, and it went under the water. This showed that even advanced warships with many people and heavy equipment can be destroyed by Ukraine’s growing sea power.
The Black Sea navy has also lost many other ships in the war. Ukraine’s use of small, fast drones and long-range missiles has allowed it to strike key Russian targets even when warships are nearby. As a result, many of Russia’s naval ships have been damaged and forced to stay in port to avoid more losses.
Ukraine’s progress at sea shows a bigger trend in the war because modern and low-cost weapons, such as drones and missiles, can change the balance power, even against bigger and more expensive ships. For years, large warships were seen as symbols of strength on the water, but Ukraine’s actions have shown that these ships can be damaged easily in modern war.
This situation also shows how important new technology and strategy have become in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukraine has worked to build systems that can challenge powerful naval forces, while Russia has had to change its strategy about where and how it keeps its ships in the Black Sea.
Many experts say that Russia’s navy has been significantly damaged because of these attacks. The loss of Moskva and other modern warships has reduced Russia’s power at sea and support operations on land from the sea. Ukraine focusing on attacking these ships has helped it gain more power, even though it still faces problems in other parts of the war.
The way Russia’s heavy ships were made useless shows how smaller forces with smart weapons can damage larger ones with advanced systems. Ukraine’s actions at sea have shown their impact in the war. They prove that even the most modern and expensive ships can become useless if they are not protected well and if new weapons are used against them.