During the full-scale war, the Ukrainian army has destroyed at least five large amphibious assault ships of the Russian Navy.
This was stated by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy Dmytro Pletenchuk, Liga reports.
"Just before the start of the full-scale invasion under the pretext of exercises, they brought six units to the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait. A total of 13," Pletenchuk said.
The Ukrainian Defence Forces were the first to destroy the Russian Saratov submarine, on 24 March 2022, in the port of the temporarily occupied Berdiansk. Ukrainian forces also damaged the large landing ships Orsk, Caesar Kunikov and Novocherkassk.
On 4 August 2023, Ukrainian naval drones attacked Novorossiysk, resulting in the destruction of the Olenegorsk Mining Company.
According to Pletenchuk, another Russian large amphibious assault ship was undergoing repairs, but it was probably destroyed as well.
"That means at least five units. This leaves eight large amphibious ships, but this information needs to be clarified as of now, maybe more," the Ukrainian Navy spokesman said.
At the same time, naval expert Volodymyr Zablotskyy assured that out of the eight listed LHDs, two are unfit for use and do not go to sea. According to him, these ships are "very old".
On 13 September, a large landing ship and a cruise missile submarine were destroyed in Crimea as a result of an attack by missiles and surface drones. The DIU confirmed that the damage to the vessels would most likely prevent their recovery.