Key change: State Department assesses Russian ship damage

The US State Department commented on the destruction of the Russian fleet’s large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov, announcing a change in the balance of power, Voice of America reported on Wednesday, February 14.

The publication quoted an unnamed senior US State Department official as saying that the destruction of the Russian ship proves a fundamental shift in strategic positioning in the region, as the Russian fleet can no longer “operate in the Black Sea as it likes.”

A representative of the US Foreign Ministry recalled that the aggressor country Russia has already lost 20% of the ships of the Black Sea Fleet.

The official also noted that Ukraine achieved such results thanks to the support of partners, as well as a “creative and advanced technological approach” to change the security balance in the Black Sea. Ukraine actually maintains the Black Sea Fleet under threat, the State Department spokesman added.

We remind you that the Ukrainian Armed Forces, together with units of the Main Intelligence Directorate, destroyed the large Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported. At the time of the defeat, the ship was in the territorial waters of Ukraine near Alupka (temporarily occupied Crimea). The Main Intelligence Directorate also released a video of the attack on the enemy ship, as a result of which it sank. They also noticed that the search and rescue operation of the invaders was not successful.

Budanov spoke about the sinking of the large landing ship Caesar Kunikov