Recent attacks on Russia’s Black Sea fleet, including a large missile strike on its headquarters that reportedly killed its leader, have left it “diminished” but still capable of carrying out its core wartime functions, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has said.
“The physical damage to the Black Sea fleet is almost certainly severe but localised,” it said in its daily intelligence update.
“The fleet almost certainly remains capable of fulfilling its core wartime missions of cruise missile strikes and local security patrols.”
However, the MoD says it is “likely” that the fleet’s ability to continue wider regional security patrols and enforce its blockade of Ukrainian ports will be “diminished”.
“It also likely has a degraded ability to defend its assets in port and to conduct routine maintenance.”
The MoD adds that recent attacks also serve to undermine the Kremlin’s influence in one of the ports it has direct control over in an occupied territory.
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