The Ukrainian Navy Commander announced that Russia’s amphibious assault capability was half destroyed

That was the statement of the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa in an interview on December 26 – the same day Ukrainian forces destroyed the Novocherkassk landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Mr. Neizhpapa emphasized: “The Black Sea Fleet’s ability to carry out amphibious attacks has been reduced to one battalion. That means before, they could land two battalions at the same time, but now there is only one left.”

The Ukrainian Navy Commander added that military landing ships flying the Russian flag are one of the priority targets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as ships carrying Kalibr missiles.

According to Vice Admiral Neizhpapa, Russia currently uses amphibious ships to transport goods between the territory of the Russian Federation and the Crimean peninsula. He did not rule out the possibility of Shahed suicide drones on board the Novocherkassk because the explosion was “very large”.

The ship was completely destroyed, Mr. Neizhpapa emphasized that there was no point in restoring this ship.

On the night of December 26, a powerful explosion occurred in Feodosia near the Russian naval port. Afterwards, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk announced that Russia’s large amphibious assault ship Novocherkassk had been destroyed and thanked the Ukrainian soldiers.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed that the attack was carried out using cruise missiles.

Ukrainian Air Force Command spokesman Yury Ignat said that it was extremely difficult for the Novocherkask to survive the attack. According to him, “it is clear that more than one missile” was used in the attack.

Later, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation confirmed the attack on the Novocherkassk ship. Russian sources said the ship “was damaged” while repelling an attack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Then a photo of the aftermath of the attack on the Novocherkassk appeared on the Internet. In the photo, it can be seen that in the area where the ship was probably anchored, there is only a pile of burned metal left.

After the destruction of the Novocherkassk, two Russian warships left the seaport area of ​​Feodosia. This was the second attack on the ship. For the first time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine caused damage to the Novocherkassk in March 2022, when they destroyed another ship in the Russian-controlled port of Berdyansk – the Saratov.