The Ukrainian Navy has confirmed that russian forces did strike the reconnaissance ship named Simferopol on August 28. Contrary to Moscow's claims of destruction, the vessel sustained damage, resulting in one crew member killed and several injured.
The strike is notable because, according to russia's defense ministry, it was carried out using a naval drone in one of the Danube's channels. If true, this could be the first instance of russian forces employing such a weapon against surface vessels — yet another attempt to replicate Ukrainian innovations.
Read more: Which russian Naval Drone Could've Struck Ukraine's Simferopol Ship and Potential Countermeasures
Launched in 2019, the Simferopol is not a combat vessel. It belongs to the Navy's auxiliary fleet and is armed only with a single 30mm AK-306 gun. Its main feature is the reconnaissance equipment developed under the Laguna program.
At the heart of its capabilities lies the Melchior electronic intelligence station, which in passive mode can detect adversary radar activity up to 450 km away, while also automatically identifying and classifying targets. Because the ship is mobile, it can determine the exact location of enemy systems independently.
The ship is further equipped with a suite of passive sensors covering different frequency ranges, designed for detecting and classifying various targets. Structurally, the vessel is based on the hull of a civilian fishing trawler of project 502EM and was built by the Kuznia na Rybalskomu shipyard.
Overall, the Simferopol measures 55 meters in length, nearly 10 meters in width, displaces 1,220 tons, and can reach speeds of up to 12 knots. It has a range of 7,200 nautical miles with an autonomy of up to 28 days.
Yet, in the harsh reality of full-scale war against russia, the operational use of such reconnaissance ships is very limited. It is possible that part of the ship's electronic intelligence suite was dismantled and repurposed for use in land-based reconnaissance systems.
Read more: Training With the 3rd International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine
