Reports are surfacing that Russia has sunk the symbol of pride for the Ukrainian Navy Hetman Sahaidachny. The Ukrainian navy flagship was taken out at Nikolaev, as per images.
The Ukrainian Navy seems to be sparing no chances in gifting Russia with a significant combat trophy — the centerpiece of its fleet, the Hetman Sahaidachny — as Russia maintains its approach on Ukraine’s southern Black Sea-facing flank (U130).
On March 3rd, 2022, a photo of the vessel half-submerged on its side surfaced on social networks. The ship appears to have been deliberately sunk to prevent it from getting into enemy hands. It’s also conceivable that this happened as a result of Russian intervention, which seems unlikely at the moment. While the 3,100-ton Krivak III/Menzhinskiy class frigate provides nothing in the way of combat capability to the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet, its capture would be a big propaganda victory for Moscow and a substantial confidence boost for Russian forces.
The frigate, which was armed with a 100mm deck gun, smaller guns, anti-submarine grenade launchers, torpedo tubes, and a helicopter, may well not appear to be very much, but this was a symbol of pride for the Ukrainian Navy, which was relatively tiny but proud.
When the 30-year-old frigate was sunk, it was reportedly receiving maintenance in the coastal city of Mykolaiv. The Russian military has increased its pressure on southwestern Ukraine, with adjacent Kherson surrendering only yesterday and worries that an amphibious attack on Odessa will follow.
As additional information regarding the Hetman Sahaidachny’s fate becomes available, we will update this report.