Ukraine sank Russian ship that shot at its sailors in 2018 with Sargan-3000 naval drone

Ukraine sank a Russian ship that shot at its sailors. The Ukrainian Navy said it destroyed the Russian second-rank border patrol ship Izumrud or “Emerald” with a Sargan-3000 naval drone.

What did Izumrud do in 2018? 

On 25 November 2018, Izumrud opened fire on Ukrainian Navy vessels in the Kerch Strait, wounding Ukrainian sailors. Ukraine’s General Staff published intercepted radio communications from the attack showing that Izumrud, hull number 354, was the ship that fired.

The Berdiansk’s captain radioed that he was undertaking no illegal action and was leaving for open sea. The answer was a salvo from Izumrud’s 30mm gun, followed by lethal fire.

The captain and two crew members were wounded by shrapnel. Russia seized the tugboat Yany Kapu and the armored boats Berdiansk and Nikopol and took 24 Ukrainian sailors prisoner.

“The satellite image confirms the destruction of the Russian border patrol ship Izumrud at the mooring wall. We continue to reduce the Russian aggressor’s potential at sea,” the Navy said.

What Izumrud did in 2018

In 2018, the Ukrainian ships were sailing from Odesa to Mariupol. Russia closed the Kerch Strait without lawful notice, blocked the passage under the bridge with a cargo vessel, and moved it aside to let its own ships through.

The FSB border guard ship Don rammed the tugboat, Yany Kapu.

Bellingcat later found the tug was intentionally rammed at least four times over the course of an hour. Russian intercepts captured the crews discussing how to do it. When the Ukrainian boats turned back and crossed into neutral waters, Izumrud opened fire.

Year after annexation 

Russian special forces boarded the vessels. The 24 captured sailors were paraded on Russian state television, making forced confessions.

They were held for nearly a year. Russia returned the ships in November 2019, with the ramming damage on Yany Kapu clearly visible and the bullet holes on Berdiansk painted over with black rectangles.

Izumrud was launched in 2014, the year Russia annexed Crimea. Project 22460, 62.5 meters long, 630 to 750 tons, up to 27 knots, with a helicopter pad. It served in the FSB’s coast guard.