( KYIV ) – Ukraine has damaged several Russian naval and military assets in recent strikes while expanding drone operations that are reshaping the battlefield along the front lines.
Three days after a major Ukrainian strike on the port city of Nova Ask, new details show that the Russian warship Admiral Essen has lost its ability to launch Kalibr cruise missiles. The frigate previously fired the missiles used to destroy the Mykolaiv regional council building in 2022.
Satellite imagery confirms that the missile launch section of the ship was damaged during the Ukrainian attack. Ukrainian forces also struck five Russian warships, an S300 air defence system, a Pantsir system, and six of the seven oil berths at the port. The port suffered extensive destruction.
The damage adds to the continuing losses of the Russian Black Sea Fleet since the start of the full scale invasion in 2022. The fleet flagship Moskva was sunk on 14 April 2022, and several additional vessels have since been damaged or destroyed.
Russia also reported that Ukrainian drones attacked a Russian gas tanker in the Mediterranean Sea near Malta. The vessel was carrying liquefied natural gas. Video footage showed one of the tanker’s storage sections exploding before the ship caught fire and later sank.
Liquefied natural gas tankers typically contain multiple insulated storage tanks designed to prevent the entire cargo from igniting if one section is damaged. The tanker involved in the incident was reportedly worth about $200 million, equivalent to approximately €184 million or about £157 million at current exchange rates.
Until recently Ukrainian naval drone operations have focused on disabling Russian oil tankers rather than sinking them to avoid environmental damage from oil spills. LNG cargo behaves differently. Once released, liquefied gas warms rapidly and disperses into the atmosphere instead of contaminating coastlines.
Ukraine has also reported a major strike against a Russian S400 air defence system in Belgorod region. Video released by Ukrainian sources shows a small drone dropping grenades onto the system, causing extensive damage. Ukrainian officials say the attack will weaken Russian air defence coverage on the Kharkiv front.
Russian sources also reported the loss of an Mi 8 helicopter during a Ukrainian drone attack near Rostov. According to the Russian military Telegram channel Fighter Bomber, the helicopter was accidentally shot down by Russian air defences during the incident.
Another Russian helicopter was destroyed over the Black Sea after approaching an abandoned offshore drilling platform. Ukrainian forces detected the aircraft and struck it. The fate of the crew remains unclear.
Ukrainian units also destroyed two TOR M2 air defence systems in separate operations in occupied territories. Analysts estimate that Russia is currently losing roughly one air defence system per day across the battlefield.
Ukraine’s expanding drone programme has played a major role in these losses. Kyiv launched the Drone Line initiative one year ago with funding of about $880 million, equivalent to approximately £693 million or €812 million. The programme now supports roughly 1,000 drone crews operating along the front.
Ukrainian officials say the programme has dramatically increased the frequency of drone attacks against Russian positions, logistics centres and vehicles. Drone operators are conducting thousands of strikes each day along the front line.
Ukraine is also expanding domestic drone production. The country aims to manufacture up to seven million drones this year.
Meanwhile diplomatic talks between Ukraine, the United States and Russia have been delayed. The planned trilateral discussions were postponed as Washington focused on the escalating conflict with Iran.
The conflict has seen extensive strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian missile, drone and military facilities. Iran has responded with ballistic missile and drone attacks across the region.
According to Israeli figures, Iran launched about 480 ballistic missiles on the first day of the war, followed by 130 on the second day and 150 on the third. By the fourth day the number had fallen to about 40.
Iran has also launched roughly 2,000 drones during the same period.
One Iranian drone attack struck a major oil processing facility in Bahrain. Iranian forces have also threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, although there are no confirmed reports that sea mines have been deployed to close the waterway.
The conflict has placed pressure on global energy markets. Qatar has temporarily halted liquefied gas processing operations because tankers cannot safely enter or leave regional ports.
The United States has introduced new financial guarantees for shipping companies operating in the Gulf region. The policy provides insurance support for maritime trade, particularly energy shipments.
Military operations against Iran are costing the United States roughly $1 billion per day, about £790 million or €920 million. In the first five days of the campaign the total cost has reached approximately $5.7 billion.
The situation has also highlighted growing challenges in missile defence. Gulf states have used about 800 Patriot interceptor missiles during the first days of the conflict.
Iranian ballistic missiles have been a major target for these systems, but many interceptors have also been used against slower attack drones.
Patriot interceptor missiles cost several million dollars each, making them significantly more expensive than the drones they are designed to destroy.
Officials from Gulf states have also asked Ukraine to send specialists to the Middle East to help defend against Iranian drone attacks. Ukrainian forces have developed extensive experience in countering Iranian Shahed drones during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
