A Russian ship reportedly used for showy, formal exercises including inspections of the country’s naval assets by President Vladimir Putin has been sunk by Ukraine. The ship was apparently taken out via a drone strike on May 8, which was Sunday. According to publicly available details: when hit, the vessel was near Snake Island, which Russians infamously took over much earlier in the war.
It’s on that island where a Ukrainian border guard team infamously told approaching Russian personnel: “Russian warship, go fuck yourself.” The ship addressed by the Ukrainians in that exchange was the Moskva, which is named after Russia’s capital — and has since sunk after a Ukrainian strike, delivering what was reportedly Russia’s largest warship loss in active combat since World War II. As for the newly sunk Russian assets, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry remarked on Twitter: “The traditional parade of the russian Black Sea fleet on May 9 this year will be held near Snake Island – at the bottom of the sea.” Multiple Russian vessels were recently hit in the area. Ukrainian defense authorities made those remarks in tandem with announcing the destruction of a Russian Serna-class landing craft.
⚡️Third of gas transit through Ukraine to Europe may be interrupted due to Russia’s war.
Since several gas facilities are in the occupied areas, Ukraine won’t be able to ensure gas transit from Russia to Europe starting on May 11, Ukraine’s gas transmission system operator said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 10, 2022
It’s unconfirmed whether one of the boats was, in fact, the vessel used by Putin for endeavors including fleet inspections and speeches. The Daily Mail made the connection in some new reporting. A Telegram channel associated with “Ukraine Now” said those behind the account “received information that one of the destroyed boats of the Raptor type in the Snake Island area was Putin’s parade boat.” The boat, they noted, is “distinguished by the white colour of its hull,” and the vessel — whether or not it was, in fact, among those hit — sports a 001 demarcation on its side. There were additional recent reports of a Ukrainian strike on the Russian ship called the Admiral Makarov, although these weren’t confirmed and could have been reflective of mere rumors. As the war unfolds, specific details are, of course, difficult to conclusively determine — although the Ukrainian Defense Ministry itself seemed to associate the Russian assets struck near Snake Island with parades… but that connection could be incidental.
⚡️Governor: One killed, 10 injured in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10.
According to Oleh Synehubov, Russian forces continued to shell residential areas in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv Oblast on May 10. The official said that attacks have intensified in the region’s Kharkiv District.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 10, 2022
Putin-aligned war criminal Igor Girkin, who’s held a variety of positions in support of the Russian regime’s causes, is among those apparently claiming that Russian positions on Snake Island have been abandoned, although obviously, no one even tangentially aligned with the Putin government is credible — so his claims shouldn’t be taken as automatically valid. Girkin also propagated the notion that the Admiral Makarov was, in fact, struck — although unlike the Moskva, it didn’t sink. Elsewhere in Ukraine, those defending the country are continuing to make strategic gains. Nathan Ruser, who works with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s International Cyber Policy Centre, wrote on Twitter Tuesday that there were “Unconfirmed but solid reports that Ukrainian troops have reached the Russian border to the North-East of Kharkiv near the town of Ternova. Today the UAF General Staff announced that Russian troops have withdrawn across the border. This unconfirmed news makes that seem more likely.” Ukrainians have recently reclaimed a variety of areas near Kharkiv, which is the country’s second-largest city and has been targeted throughout the war.
Unconfirmed but solid reports that Ukrainian troops have reached the Russian border to the North-East of Kharkiv near the town of Ternova. Today the UAF General Staff announced that Russian troops have withdrawn across the border. This unconfirmed news makes that seem more likely pic.twitter.com/UNt0aWChQi
— Nathan Ruser (@Nrg8000) May 10, 2022