SSO covertly struck a Russian ship in the Caspian Sea, but it was not a "Kalibr" carrier
Kyiv • UNN
The SSO attacked a Russian Project 21630 ship with FP-1 drones. Following the hit, a large-scale fire broke out on board the Caspian Flotilla vessel.
In a video marking their 10th anniversary, the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine showed previously unknown footage of a strike on a Russian warship. Social media users initially speculated that the target was a Project 21631 "Buyan-M" small missile ship—a carrier of "Kalibr" cruise missiles. However, as Defense Express notes, it was actually a different ship, UNN reports.
Details
The footage shows that the vessel lacks the characteristic superstructure with vertical launch systems for "Kalibr" missiles. Instead, two AK-306 anti-aircraft mounts are located in this part of the ship. This indicates that the strike hit a Project 21630 "Buyan" small artillery ship, which served as the basis for the later "Buyan-M" modification.
The strike was carried out using FP-1 drones
Two FP-1 drones with satellite control were likely used for the attack. After the first hit, a large-scale fire broke out on board, and some of the crew began jumping into the water to escape the second strike. Unlike the "Buyan-M," the artillery "Buyan" is not a carrier of "Kalibr" missiles, but it is equipped with a 100mm A-190 gun, AK-306 mounts, "Grad-M" MLRS, and the "Gibka" system.
There are only three Project 21630 ships in the Russian Navy—the "Astrakhan," "Volgodonsk," and "Makhachkala." All of them are part of the Caspian Flotilla; therefore, Defense Express suggests that the strike was carried out specifically in the Caspian Sea. It is currently unknown which specific ship was hit.
Analysts also note that Ukraine has recently intensified strikes on Russian ships and military infrastructure even far from the front line. Against this backdrop, the Russian military has begun installing protective "barbecue grills" (cages) even on nuclear submarines of the Russian Pacific Fleet.