Satellite Images Confirm Critical Damage on Russian Navy Corvette

(KRONSTADT, ST. PETERSBURG) – Satellite imagery has revealed extensive damage to a Russian naval corvette following a Ukrainian drone strike that coincided with the opening of an international economic forum in St. Petersburg.

The images, captured after the attack, show the Steregushchy-class corvette Boikiy engulfed in flames while berthed in a dry dock at Kronstadt. Multiple emergency crews were observed on the scene using high pressure hoses to combat the blaze.

Firefighting operations were still active at the time the satellite passed overhead. Thick smoke continued to billow from the vessel, with some of the haze likely attributable to spray from the firefighting efforts. The hull appeared to still be smouldering, with seven separate hose streams aimed at the superstructure.

Analysis of the imagery indicates the fire likely consumed the interior of the superstructure, not merely its external surfaces. Hoses were directed at the sides of the structure rather than the top, suggesting flames had penetrated deep inside. The strike delivered a direct hit to the most critical section of the warship.

A review of the corvette’s blueprints confirms the area ablaze houses the vessel’s most sophisticated and costly systems. Among the equipment located in the devastated superstructure are the TK25 electronic warfare system, the MR2312 navigation radar, the MTK201 detection and tracking system, the FK 2 3D multifunctional radar, the Monument A surface search radar, the 10 50102 Puma gun fire control system, the ISP 520M1 optronic system, and a second MR2311 navigation radar. The ship’s ray dome was completely destroyed.

Given the spread of the fire throughout the superstructure, it is possible that internal control systems, including cabling, processors, power plants, and operating computers, are also badly damaged or destroyed, making this a costly repair challenge.

Additional fire damage was observed at the rear of the vessel, just behind the superstructure. Although the flames in this section appeared extinguished, the area was visibly blackened. This rear section houses the Ka-52 helicopter hangar, 324mm anti-torpedo launchers, the Anapa-M anti-saboteur dipping sonar, a 30mm AK-630M close in weapon system, and quadruple launchers for Kh-35U anti-ship missiles. As the ship had been undergoing maintenance since February, the weapon tubes were likely empty.

The extent of the damage to the rear section is less clear than the destruction to the superstructure, but key elements, including sonar systems and the close in weapon system, were located in the affected zone. A tall black mass connected to the navigation radar by a cable was also situated there.

The cumulative damage is very extensive. Even if the hull remains intact, the warship will be out of service for a considerable period. It may not be possible for the Russian military to repair the vessel at all, given the expense and complexity of the destroyed components. The Russian economy is currently crippled by international sanctions and restrictions, which will further complicate any effort to source replacements. If repair is feasible, it will take a long time.

The same satellite pass also captured imagery of a targeted oil loading terminal. The facility consists of 36 oil tanks of various sizes and was struck at least four times. One oil tank was completely destroyed and a second was still burning. Other tanks sustained direct hits to their tops but did not burn out, suggesting they were empty at the time of the attack. A drone that missed its intended target hit a blue roofed warehouse nearby.

The empty state of many of the oil tanks may indicate a broader shortage of oil resulting from sustained Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. The fact that an export terminal had dry tanks suggests the shortage is severe, even if the physical damage to the terminal was less than anticipated.

The primary objective of the strike appeared to be the humiliation of the Russian government. The attack took place on the opening day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an event attended by delegates from around the world. Those present would have witnessed the drones and seen the fires burning. St. Petersburg is Russia’s second city and would be expected to be a well protected fortress. Ukraine managed to strike it publicly and in front of Russia’s allies and representatives.

The strike on the Boikiy is the latest in a long campaign targeting Russian naval assets. A checklist of Russian ships hit during the conflict includes the Moskva, destroyed; the Essen, hit three times in 2026 with non-critical damage; the Makarov, damaged in 2022 and repaired; the Saratov, completely destroyed; the Nikolai Filchenkov, hit twice in 2026 with unknown damage; the Minsk, reduced to a floating husk with its superstructure gone and no apparent plan to repair it; the Gornyak, hit in 2023 and back in service; the Caesar Kunikov, sunk by marine drones; the Novocherkassk, destroyed completely by Storm Shadow missiles; the Yamal, hit in 2024 and not repaired; the Azov, damaged badly in the same attack and also out of action; the Konstantin Olshansky, captured from Ukraine in 2014 and hit in the same strike; the Pavel Derzhavin, a patrol boat hit in 2023; the Sergei Kotov, sunk by marine drones; the Samum, damaged and back in service; an unknown Bora class vessel hit by drones recently; the Cyclone, a Karakurt class corvette destroyed in Sevastopol; the Askold, damaged extensively by Storm Shadow and likely beyond repair; and vessels hit in the Caspian Sea including the Tatarstan, Dagestan, and an unknown corvette whose radar was destroyed.

Additional losses include the Valentin Pikul, a minesweeper damaged moderately in 2026; the Ivanovets, a Tarantul class vessel sunk in 2024; an unknown Gratch class vessel likely sunk; two Serna class landing craft damaged, with one destroyed near Snake Island; an Ondatra class landing craft sunk; at least six BK-16 fast patrol boats damaged or destroyed; six Raptor patrol boats hit; the Rostov on Don submarine, destroyed; an unknown Kilo class submarine, damaged; a Slav command ship, damaged; the Kommuna salvage ship, damaged slightly; the Spasatel Legen, damaged minorly; the Ivan Khurs intelligence ship, hit by a marine drone and later by a Storm Shadow, causing extensive damage that left it unable to depart Sevastopol; a harbour tug destroyed by a Harpoon missile; a Boykiy class corvette destroyed in the Caspian; three Project 05060 fast patrol boats destroyed in Crimea; a Coast Guard patrol boat destroyed; three hovercraft destroyed and damaged by naval drones; and three large Coast Guard patrol vessels hit.

This tally does not account for numerous tugs that have taken direct hits or a static diver training boat sunk by the explosion that destroyed the Novocherkassk. Many of the listed vessels are destroyed, sunk, or damaged so extensively that repair may be impossible.