On March 11, 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force executed a successful strike, destroying russian command post situated aboard the Mechanic Pogodin vessel. This ship, marooned near the Kinburn Spit following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in the summer of 2023, had been repurposed by russians as an observation post for reconnaissance, a command center for controlling FPV kamikaze drone strikes in Kherson region, and outfitted with electronic warfare equipment.
In response to these circumstances, the Ukrainian Navy declared the Mechanic Pogodin tanker a legitimate military target. Notably, the vessel, owned by a russian shipping company and seized in 2018 for violating Ukraine’s sanctions regime, had been stationed in the port of Kherson until the summer of 2023.
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The utilization of the stranded Mechanic Pogodin vessel by russian forces, which unequivocally marked its conversion into a military asset, aligns with the provisions outlined in paragraph 40 and subparagraph c of paragraph 60 of the San Remo Manual on International Law applicable to maritime armed conflicts. The destruction of the Mechanic Pogodin tanker, integrated into russian electronic warfare and reconnaissance systems, as well as command and communication infrastructure, not only thwarted hostile operations but also adhered to the norms of International Humanitarian Law, as emphasized by the Ukrainian Navy.
While the information provided may not encompass all conjectures circulating within information space, such as the potential presence of senior russian military personnel, including the local military group commander, Mikhail Teplinsky, at the time of the strike, it’s imperative to detect the enemy’s establishment of advanced control points for drone strikes and electronic warfare using abandoned structures like the Mechanic Pogodin tanker. These actions may raise concerns within the framework of international humanitarian law.
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