Watch | Ukraine Says Destroyed Russian Warship 'Caesar Kunikov' In Black Sea

Ukraine said on Wednesday it had destroyed another Russian warship in the Black Sea, a key battleground of the nearly two-year war.

The Ukrainian military said its forces together with military intelligence units had “destroyed” the “Caesar Kunikov” Russian landing ship off the coast of the Crimean peninsula. A large ball of smoke and flames could be seen rising from what appeared to be a ship in footage posted by Ukrainian military intelligence.

Frontline Remains Static

Though the frontline on land has remained static for over a year, Ukraine claims to have put Russia on the defensive in the Black Sea, an area vital for Ukrainian exports. “The enemy ship was attacked by Magura V5 maritime strike drones off the coast of the temporarily occupied Crimea near the city of Alupka,” it said. Moscow said it had downed six Ukrainian drones over the strategic body of water.

Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, has been extensively targeted by Ukrainian drones and missiles since it began its counteroffensive last summer. Ukraine says its attacks have put a third of Russia’s Black Sea warships out of action since the invasion began, as it seeks to protect its shipping routes and prevent attacks from the sea.

Putin Ceasfire Proposal

On Tuesday, news agency Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries. However, the report added that a US source denied there had been any official contact and said Washington would not engage in talks that did not involve Ukraine.

Putin sent signals to Washington in 2023 in public and privately through intermediaries, including through Moscow’s Arab partners in the Middle East and others, that he was ready to consider a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Russian sources said. The Russian President was reportedly proposing to freeze the conflict at the current lines and was unwilling to cede any of the Ukrainian territory controlled by Russia.

(With agency inputs)