Topline
A Russian Navy amphibious landing ship was destroyed while docked in the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk in southern Ukraine on Thursday, the Ukrainian navy said hours after photos emerged of a large ship engulfed in flames in the region.
Smoke rises after shelling near a seaport in Berdyansk, Ukraine, Thursday.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Key Facts
In a Facebook post, the Ukrainian Navy said it had “destroyed” the amphibious landing dock ‘Orsk’.
The post included a photo and a video of a large plume of smoke and flames engulfing what appears to be a ship on the port of Berdyansk.
The post makes no mention of any casualties and it’s unclear if Russian troops were present on the ship while it was attacked.
Berdyansk, which is under Russian control, is located southwest of the besieged city of Mariupol and the landing ship was likely used to ferry troops into the region.
Key Background
Russian forces captured the port city of Berdyansk on February 27. The port city sits on the Azov sea and served a key role in the amphibious landing of troops and equipment with the help of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. If Ukraine’s claims about the destroyed ship are correct, it could further hinder the Russian military’s attempts to capture the besieged city of Mariupol. The ‘Orsk’ is one of two Alligator-class landing ships operated by the Russian Navy and is designed to carry between 300 and 400 troops along with 20 tanks or other armored vehicles.
Further Reading
Six Russian Amphibious Landing Ships Are Now Headed Into The Black Sea (The Drive)
