Putin's newest war toy has already been hit and destroyed by a missile

The Russian Karakurt-class corvette Tsyklon (Picture: east2west)

A warship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, carrying Kalibr missiles, was destroyed in occupied Crimea, in a major blow to Vladimir Putin, it has been claimed.

Tsyklon, a Karakurt class corvette worth at least £26 million, was one of the newest vessels, reportedly deployed for the first time in the summer of 2023.

It is the latest Russian ship targeted by Ukraine, increasingly sapping the power of Putin’s navy.

It was reportedly struck during an attack on Sevastopol, which the Ukrainian Navy previously said resulted in the destruction of the Russian minesweeper Kovrovets.

A post on Ukrainian Navy’s Telegram channel earlier today said: ‘On the night of May 19, 2024, the Defence Forces of Ukraine hit the Russian missile ship Tsyklon of project 22800 in Sevastopol.’

Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk previously warned that if the destruction of the warship is confirmed, this will mean that there are no longer any carriers of Kalibr cruise missiles in the occupied Crimean peninsula.

Following successful strikes earlier this year, Russia withdrew almost all its major ships from ports in the territory.

Successful sea drone and missile strikes have provided a needed morale boost for Ukrainians, currently suffering losses on the frontline in the northeast.

Russia has continued to make advances near Kharkhiv, the second biggest city, in recent weeks.

Surrounding towns including, Hlyboke, Lukiantsi and Vovchansk have been largely destroyed and Ukrainian soldiers have been forced to pull back amid the ongoing offensive.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said warned that explosive-laden glide bombs are wreaking destruction on military and civilian areas.

‘This brings us back again and again to the need for air defense – for additional defence systems that could significantly mitigate the difficulties for our warriors and the threat to our cities and communities,’ Zelensky said late Monday on social media.

He claimed Ukraine’s forces are still in control of the contested areas, but Russia says it has captured a series of border villages.

A Russian overnight drone attack hit transport infrastructure in Kharkiv, damaging more than 25 trucks, buses, and other vehicles, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said today. Seven people were injured, he added.

Ukraine’s general staff said the frequency of Russian attacks in Kharkiv slowed on Monday, though fighting continued.

Russian troops are also conducting reconnaissance and sabotage raids in Ukraine’s northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions, shelling border settlements and laying more minefields.

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