Russia: Ukraine ‘sinks £275m Russian submarine’ | World | News

Ukraine has taken out a £275million Russian submarine after a missile strike on the city of Rostov-on-Don.

Kyiv’s forces say they also “significantly damaged” four Russian S-400 air defence systems, dealing a huge blow to Vladimir Putin’s military.

The missile defence systems are worth a combined £2billion and were stationed in occupied Crimea.

Ukraine’s strikes were carried out on Friday using ATACMS missiles made in the US.

Kyiv’s armed forces general staff said: “The Ukrainian Defence Forces have struck a submarine and the S-400 air defence system of the enemy in temporarily occupied Crimea.

“According to confirmed information, yesterday [Friday] the missile troops, in cooperation with the Ukrainian Navy, significantly damaged four launchers of the S-400 “Triumf” air defence system.

“In addition, in the port of Sevastopol, the Black Sea Fleet submarine Rostov-on-Don was successfully hit.

“As a result of the strike, the submarine sank on the spot.

“The destruction of the Rostov-on-Don once again proves that there is no safe place for the Russian fleet in Ukrainian territorial waters of the Black Sea,” said the Kyiv statement.

“Thank you to the Ukrainian soldiers for their professional work.”

The strike comes as Russian forces continue to attack in the east of Ukraine. This week, Moscow’s troops have made gains near logistics hubs in Pokrovsk, Donetsk region.

Russian troops have gained about 7 sq km (22 sq miles) in the space of a week, according to reports.

Ruslan Muzychuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s National Guard said in televised remarks. “These assaults are not always supported by armoured vehicles, often it is infantry assaults.

“It’s a significant threat … because the Pokrovsk and Toretsk fronts are taking a large share of the daily aviation strikes carried out on the positions of Ukrainian defenders.”

Valeriy Romanenko, a Kyiv-based aviation expert, has warned that Russia’s pressure from the air is also hurting Ukraine after Putin’s soldiers took five settlements in the Donetsk region this week.

He said: “The Russians are not piercing our defence, they are pushing it back.

“They are advancing 100, 150, 200 metres every day using this tactic: dropping guided bombs, then a ‘meat assault’, [and if those are] repelled, dropping guided bombs again, a ‘meat assault’ again.”