Russia-Ukraine War: Ukrainian Navy says it has struck Russian boat in Black Sea

Russian Navy boat of the Black Sea Fleet patrols an aria of the Mariupol Sea Port, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People's Republic, eastern Ukraine, on May 30. Photo / AP

The Ukrainian Navy claimed on Friday that it struck a Russian boat carrying air defence systems to a strategic island in the Black Sea.

In a statement on social media, the Navy said the Vasily Bekh was used to transport ammunition, weapons and personnel to Snake Island, which is vital for protecting sea lanes out of the key port of Odesa. It did not say how much damage it inflicted with the strike.

Snake Island, which is about 35km off the coast, figured memorably early in the war when Ukrainian border guards stationed there defied Russian orders to surrender, using colourful language that later became a rallying cry.

The flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, used in the seizure of Snake Island, was sunk in April by Ukraine — a major coup for the outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian forces, which made effective use of technology and intelligence from the United States to target the ship.

Spasatel Vasily Bekh, a tug of the russian black sea fleet, successfully demilitarized by the @UA_NAVY. The ship was transporting personnel, weapons and ammunition to the occupied Snake Island.
Moskva never be alone... pic.twitter.com/3slXr6qtEl

— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 17, 2022

#Ukraine: Big news from the Black Sea- the Ukrainian Navy claims to have destroyed the Russian "Vasily Bekh" rescue vessel, as it travelled to the famous Snake Island; it reportedly had a Tor-M2KM SAM system on board.

The strike was filmed by a TB-2 drone; 2 munitions are used. pic.twitter.com/pCjMf2RX4d

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) June 17, 2022

The Ukrainian Navy hit the Russian tugboat Vasily Bekh in the Black Sea. It was heading for the island of Snake (Zmiinyy).
The Russian tugboat was transporting ammunition, weapons and personnel of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to the Ukrainian island. pic.twitter.com/0M1PYnGXOP

— Iuliia Mendel (@IuliiaMendel) June 17, 2022

The Ukrainian Navy said Friday that after the sinking of the flagship Moskva, the Russians began to install an anti-aircraft missile system called TOR on the decks of their ships. It said that was not enough to prevent Ukraine's naval forces from "demilitarising the Russian occupiers".

There was no immediate reaction from Russian authorities to the Ukrainian claim.

Despite the apparent success, Ukraine has urged its allies to rush more and better weapons to the country, saying it can't hold off Russia's more powerful forces without more support. Western weapons have been critical to the embattled nation's surprising success so far.

Kyiv has also pushed for increased political support, including a fast track to membership in the European Union.

On a visit to Ukraine on Thursday, four European Union leaders vowed to back Kyiv's candidacy to eventually join the bloc. The European Commission, the union's executive arm, is set to meet Friday to make its official recommendation.

The war has increased pressure on EU Governments to move more quickly on Ukraine's candidate status, and Thursday's pledge to support candidacy status for Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova pushes the whole 27-nation union closer to doing so. But the process still is expected to take years, and EU members remain divided over how quickly and fully to open their arms to new members.