The United Kingdom's defense secretary on Tuesday posted a warning directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin following the news that Ukraine destroyed one of the Russian Black Sea Fleet's patrol ships.
"The Black Sea is not safe for Putin's Navy," U.K. Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Hours before Shapps' post, Ukraine's military intelligence announced its forces had destroyed the Black Sea Fleet's newest patrol ship, the Sergey Kotov, during an overnight drone strike.
The Black Sea Fleet and other Russian positions in Crimea have been subjected to frequent attacks from Kyiv's military over the course of the war Putin launched in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly stated that one of his ultimate goals in the conflict is to regain control of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 following a short invasion.
U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps speaks at the Conservative Party Conference on October 1, 2023, in Manchester, England. Shapps on Tuesday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow's navy is no longer safe in the... U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps speaks at the Conservative Party Conference on October 1, 2023, in Manchester, England. Shapps on Tuesday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow's navy is no longer safe in the Black Sea. More Photo by Carl Court/GETTY IMAGES
Crimea is also Russia's central logistics hub for its forces in southern Ukraine, and Shapps underscored the significance of Kyiv's successful operations in the region.
The British official noted that "until recently" it "would have been unimaginable" to think of the Black Sea as being dangerous for Putin's fleet.
"Now because the West backed Ukraine, it's undeniable," Shapps said in his X post.
The Black Sea is not safe for Putin's Navy.
Until recently that would have been unimaginable.
Now because the West backed Ukraine, it's undeniable.
If we get them what they need, the bravery & skill of the Ukrainian Armed Forces can unlock victories once thought impossible. https://t.co/YAyvH814o0 — Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 5, 2024
He also used the strike on the Sergey Kotov to call for more military aid for Zelensky's military.
"If we get them what they need, the bravery & skill of the Ukrainian Armed Forces can unlock victories once thought impossible," Shapps wrote.
Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense via email on Tuesday for comment.
According to the Kyiv-based UNIAN news agency, the Sergey Kotov is from the Project 22160 series of patrol ships. These ships reportedly cost around $65 million to build and can hold a crew of 80, although it is unclear how many people were aboard the Sergey Kotov.
Ukraine said the Sergey Kotov was "damaged by fire in the territorial waters of Ukraine."
"As a result of the attack by Magura V5 naval drones, the Russian ship of project 22160 'Sergey Kotov' suffered damage to the stern, right and left sides," Ukraine's military intelligence (GUR) said in a post on Telegram.
Russian officials have not yet commented on the Sergey Kotov, and its destruction has not been independently verified by Newsweek, but Russian military bloggers have said the ship was sunk.
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, indicated Russia can expect more attacks on its ships in the region.
"The Russian Black Sea Fleet is a symbol of occupation. It cannot be in Ukrainian Crimea," Yermak wrote in a Tuesday message on Telegram.