Sea trade in the Black Sea is on high alert after Ukraine sunk a Russian landing ship, the Caesar Kunikov.
The Ukrainian General Staff stated that the vessel suffered critical damage on its left side and began to sink after being hit by naval drones.
This reported incident follows a similar claim by Ukrainian forces of sinking the Russian warship Ivanovets in a drone attack earlier in the month.
The Russian military has not confirmed the sinking of the Caesar Kunikov.
The use of unmanned naval drones has been highlighted as a significant development in the ongoing conflict, with Ukraine's military intelligence attributing the attacks to a special operations unit called "Group 13" specialising in unmanned naval warfare.
The latest drone strike has raised concerns about the risks for shipping in the Black Sea, particularly due to its proximity to shipping lanes.
According to ABC News, the Caesar Kunikov amphibious ship sank near Alupka, a city on the southern edge of the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow annexed in 2014.
“Sinking the vessel would be another embarrassing blow for the Russian Black Sea fleet and a significant success for Ukraine 10 days before the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.”
The attack comes as a major blow for Russia because of military supply-line pressure experienced in the area.
Russian newspaper Pravda said the attack had decreased the country’s serviceable fleet in the Black Sea to five vessels.
