A video purported to show a maritime drone attack on the Russian reconnaissance vessel Ivan Churs went viral on Telegram on Thursday.
The media reported on Wednesday that this ship was attacked. It was later confirmed by Russia itself.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said the attack was “unsuccessful” and that all three drones were allegedly destroyed.
Drone footage released Thursday shows it approaching the ship, then cutting off.
The Russian reconnaissance ship Ivan Churs, which joined the Black Sea Fleet only in 2018, was attacked by unidentified “maritime drones” 74 kilometers north of the Bosphorus, Defense Express reported on Wednesday.
Moscow later claimed it had repelled the attack. “Today at 5:30 “Ukraine’s armed forces unsuccessfully attempted to attack the Black Sea Fleet vessel Ivan Churs with three unmanned speedboats this morning,” the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that the Russian vessel was tasked with protecting pipeline infrastructure in Turkish waters.
Russia is said to have only two reconnaissance ships like the Ivan Churs. The ship is equipped with various radio-technical intelligence, radio-electronic combat complexes, as well as communication systems that ensure fleet management.
It is announced that the ship is designed to monitor anti-missile defense systems, and the exact composition of the equipment is not revealed. Its crew consists of 120 people.
From the place where “Ivan Churs” was attacked, it is more than 400 kilometers to the territory controlled by Ukraine.
