In a significant military operation on March 2, Ukrainian forces, in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), targeted the Russian frigate Admiral Essen at the Novorossiysk port. The strike reportedly resulted in critical damage to the vessel, which is armed with eight Kalibr cruise missiles, rendering it unable to conduct attacks on Ukrainian territory.
Sources within the SBU indicated that the assault specifically impacted the ship’s midsection. The damage included several critical systems:
- Detonation of grenade launchers used for thermal decoy deployment and radio signal jamming;
- Damage to the TK-25 electronic warfare system, which detects radar emissions and creates countermeasures;
- Destruction of the ZR-90 Orekh target illumination radars, part of the ship’s air defense missile system;
- Possible impairment of the Frigate-M2M main surveillance radar, responsible for long-range detection of aerial and surface threats.
According to the SBU, the operation successfully breached a complex multi-layered air defense system surrounding Novorossiysk Bay and the port. A fire on the frigate’s deck lasted approximately 18 hours, indicating severe internal damage and complicating the efforts of emergency response teams.
The Admiral Essen’s critical damage significantly limits its capability to launch Kalibr cruise missiles. Currently, the frigate is unable to conduct offensive operations against Ukraine.
On the same day, Ukrainian defense units also struck the Sheskharis oil terminal and the Novorossiysk naval base in Russia’s Krasnodar region, leading to a substantial fire in the area.
Ukrainian intelligence sources reported that additional naval assets were affected in the Novorossiysk port, including the minesweeper Valentin Pikul and the anti-submarine ships Yeysk and Kasimov, alongside air defense facilities and the oil terminal. Casualties among Russian personnel were reported, with three sailors confirmed dead and 14 others injured.
Ukrainian forces successfully targeted the Russian frigate Admiral Essen in Novorossiysk, causing significant damage and limiting its operational capabilities. The operation also affected other naval assets and resulted in casualties among Russian troops.
Source: Суспільне