Russia Says It Destroyed Boat Carrying Ukrainian Assault Team in Black Sea

Earlier in the day, Russia said it destroyed a sea drone in the Black Sea

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that its forces destroyed a US-made military boat carrying a Ukrainian assault team near Snake Island in the northern Black Sea.

The ministry identified the boat as a Sea Force, a patrol boat made by Willard Marine, an American company based in California. Earlier on Tuesday, Russia said that it destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that approached Russian gas facilities in the Black Sea.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated in the Black Sea since Russia withdrew from the grain deal that facilitated exports from Ukraine’s ports. Moscow chose not to renew the deal because it was unhappy with Western efforts to facilitate the export of Russian agricultural goods, and said it would rejoin if its demands were met.

Map of the Black Sea

Since the grain deal fell apart, Russia stepped up its bombardment of Ukrainian ports, and Ukraine declared war on Russian shipping. Incidents in the Black Sea have included a Ukrainian attack on a Russian tanker and Russian forces boarding a commercial vessel.

On Monday, a Ukrainian official said Ukraine might try a new Black Sea corridor after a ship that left the port of Odessa successfully made it to Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait. The ship stayed close to the coast of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria while making the transit.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the US was considering options, including “military solutions,” to protect Ukrainian shipments from Danube River ports as an alternative to the grain deal.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.