The defense forces of Ukraine struck the Russian ship "Kostyantyn Olshansky" with an anti-ship missile "Neptune". Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced this on the air of the national telethon.
According to him, Russia captured this landing ship during the occupation of Crimea in 2014.
"It stood in the bay for nine years, and the occupiers began to disassemble it for spare parts. In the 10th year of the war, the enemies realized that they were running out of large amphibious ships, so they restored it within a year," Pletenchuk said.
The Navy spokesman noted that the extent of damage to the affected ship is currently being determined. However, he was definitely wounded and is currently unfit for combat use. "This ship was supposed to be used by Ukraine. Therefore, a decision was made to injure this unit with our "Neptune", he said. Pletenchuk added that the damage occurred on the same day as the sinking of the large landing ships "Azov" and "Yamal", as well as the Russian reconnaissance ship "Ivan Khurs" - March 24.
After the Ukrainian attack, Russia has five VDCs in service, four more are under repair, the Navy spokesman added. "Kostyantyn Olshansky" is a large amphibious ship of project 775 ("Toad" according to the NATO classification). This is a multi-deck, flat-bottomed ship of the ocean zone with a half tank and a developed aft superstructure. Named in honor of the Hero of the USSR Konstantin Olshanskyi, the commander of the 68th paratroopers who participated in the expulsion of the Nazi occupiers from Mykolaiv during the Second World War.
The main purpose of the "Kostyantyn Olshansky" VDC is to receive from the equipped or unequipped shore tracked, wheeled and any military transport equipment, infantry units of equipment, their transportation by sea and landing on both equipped and unequipped coasts with a small slope of the bottom. Also - reception from the water, transportation by sea and launching of swimming equipment. In addition, the ship can be used to install mine barriers, deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate the population from dangerous areas. And also for military transport, provision of ships and fleet units at dispersed bases.
