The ministry stated that the Ukrainian vessel had been impaired by an SU-30 aircraft from the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

There was no comment from Ukraine, which hardly ever publicly comments on its operations inside Russia or Russia-controlled territory. Still, Ukraine has been accused of attacking Russian vessels with advanced naval drones.

Russia-backed relevant officials based in Crimea, which Russia had seized and annexed back in 2014 from Ukraine, said in June 2022 that Ukraine’s forces had reportedly attacked some of the drilling platforms located in the Black Sea and those owned by Chernomorneftegaz, an oil and gas firm.

They said about three individuals were wounded in an incident, and work on three big drilling platforms was also suspended.

Russia also seized Chernomorneftegaz from the Ukrainian national gas operator Naftogaz as part of Moscow’s 2014 annexation. The firm is under U.S. and EU sanctions.