Updated
Updated · UNITED24 Media · Jun 9
SBU Reveals Drone Strikes on 2 Russian Warships, Including 1 of 3 Buyan-Class Vessels
Updated
Updated · UNITED24 Media · Jun 9

SBU Reveals Drone Strikes on 2 Russian Warships, Including 1 of 3 Buyan-Class Vessels

3 articles · Updated · UNITED24 Media · Jun 9

Summary

  • SBU on June 9 released footage that appears to show separate drone strikes on two Russian naval vessels, not repeated hits on one ship as first interpreted.
  • Defense Express identified the targets as a Project 10410B Svetlyak-class patrol ship and a Project 21630 Buyan-class artillery ship based on their silhouettes and configurations.
  • The Svetlyak-class vessel appears to be hit near its mast, where radar and communications antennas are mounted, potentially degrading combat capability even if the full damage is still unclear.
  • Thermal imagery shows a large fire across much of the Buyan-class ship’s superstructure before another impact, suggesting the blaze may have spread into internal sections, though that has not been independently verified.
  • Russia has only 3 Buyan-class vessels, all in the Caspian Flotilla, pointing to a rare strike on a small and concentrated part of its fleet.

Insights

Can Russia adapt its defenses before Ukraine's drones render another of its naval fleets combat-incapable?
With strikes hitting 1,100km away, are any of Russia's strategic assets now safe from Ukrainian drones?
How will Ukraine’s Caspian Sea attacks disrupt the critical Russia-Iran arms and trade corridor?