Security Service of Ukraine Special Operations Center Alpha operators published video compilation of drone strikes on russian targets. Specifically, compilation included two drone footage fragments attacking russian ship, which was not previously officially announced.
Initially it may have seemed one ship was struck by two drones. However, upon detailed review it becomes clear drone hits were actually against two different russian vessels.
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First on video struck was Project 10410B Svyetlyak border patrol ship. Second ship struck on video, already ablaze, was Project 21630 Buyan small artillery ship.
Now that we clarified what was struck, let us examine each strike in more detail. Over last two months this is already third Project 10410 Svyetlyak ship struck. On video, drone hit most vulnerable ship part — mast antennas.
Without these antennas, Svyetlyak will hardly be able to fully perform its tasks. Therefore it will likely have to go for lengthy and costly repair before being able to return to sea. Where specifically Svyetlyak was struck is currently unknown as large quantity were built and they are present in various seas.
With struck Project 21630 Buyan small artillery ship situation is somewhat worse for rashists. Despite drone hit on video hardly causing it significant damage, drones that hit Buyan before caused large fire.
From drone thermal camera footage one can see flames engulfed entire superstructure. Besides, judging from thermal spot on ship's side fire likely spread into hull interior. Although current damage extent after strike is unknown, doubts exist whether crew managed to quickly extinguish such large-scale fire.
Assumption can be made that after such fire this ship will likely go for decommissioning. Restoration work will take years and cost extraordinarily much, and rashists already have modernized Project 21631 Buyan-M version armed with Kalibr cruise missiles.
Important to note rashists have only three Project 21630 Buyan ships total, Astrakhan, Volgodonsk and Makhachkala, all assigned to Caspian Flotilla. Meaning struck ship was one of these three in Caspian Sea.
Also worth recalling that only recently SOF published drone strike footage against Project 21630 Buyan ship, whose damage was also not officially announced. Not excluded this was same ship struck during joint SOF and SSU operation.
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