In Novorossiysk a carrier of Kalibr and Oniks may have been destroyed: new images appeared

A Buyan-M ship was hit / Russian Federation Ministry of DefenseAfter the Strike Forces attacked the naval base in Novorossiysk, satellite and reconnaissance images appeared in which analysts found new damage to Russian ships. According to the Ukrainian OSINT project Exilenova+, one of them may be the small missile ship of project 21631 "Buyan-M".

In one of the released images analysts identified a "Buyan-M." In their assessment, after the strike the ship became inoperable.

The "Buyan-M" is a small missile ship, but its size does not mean a lack of serious armament. Ships of this project carry Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles.

Confirmation of the ship being hit / photo Exilenova+If this information is officially confirmed, the "Buyan-M" will be at least the fourth Russian ship damaged as a result of the attack on Novorossiysk.

Updated about 20.20. Later the Ukrainian Navy stated that, according to satellite images, a long-range "Neptune" hit the frigate "Admiral Essen." In particular, a hit to the upper superstructure was confirmed. According to the Navy, the damage received prevents the ship from performing combat missions, and the missile carrier will require long-term and expensive repairs. Sailors emphasize that the damage to that frigate is confirmation that there are no safe places for Russian warships in the Black Sea anymore.

What preceded it

Earlier the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine officially confirmed the damage of three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet: the small sea minesweeper "Zheleznyakov", the frigate "Admiral Essen", and the large landing ship of project 11711 "Petro Morgunov."

The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine previously reported that the "Admiral Essen" was one of the main targets of the operation and was struck by a "Neptune" missile.

Later the Main Directorate of Intelligence clarified that after the hit a fire broke out on the frigate's superstructure.

The "Neptune" is a Ukrainian anti-ship cruise missile developed by the State Kyiv Design Bureau "Luch." The base version R-360 is intended to hit surface targets, but can also be used against ground targets.