The Ukrainian military has been able to achieve astonishing successes in the Black Sea for months, often nipping Russian actions in the bud. But now the 73rd Naval Center for Maritime Special Operations was experiencing one of the worst days of the entire war.
It is a loss that is particularly heavy for the Ukrainian armed forces. Russian forces in occupied Crimea appear to have succeeded on Thursday in ambushing nearly two dozen soldiers from one of Ukraine’s best-trained and experienced special forces.
Unit became involved in a ‘brief skirmish’
As the Kyiv Post, among others, reported, the battle took place early in the morning near Tenderovsky Island – a narrow spit of land on the southeastern coast of the Crimean Peninsula. According to this information, five smaller boats carrying Ukrainian soldiers initially approached a sandy beach where they attempted to land. After a “brief battle,” Russian units said they sank three landing craft and killed at least 20 Ukrainian special forces.
The unit was actually made up of hand-picked soldiers who specialized in covert attacks at sea – as Russian military blogger Kot Dobrokhod reported, they have now likely been caught in a fatal ambush by the Russian fleet. Other pro-Russian military bloggers claimed that a Ukrainian boat escaped, a boat was seized and a soldier was captured.
Ukraine confirms losses
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry confirmed that an “unsuccessful attack” had taken place near Tenderovsky Island, killing and wounding special forces, but without providing details. Photos first published by pro-Russian military information channel Povernutie Na Voine showed six bodies dressed in Ukrainian military uniforms aboard a blood-stained military boat.
Other images showed two machine guns mounted on the boat, seven individual weapons and several boxes of ammunition. Pro-Russian military information channel Readovka reported that Russian troops captured a Ukrainian flag.
Heavy loss for mysterious unit
Ukraine’s special operations forces have had quite a successful track record since the start of the war. The 73rd Naval Center specialists were credited with successful amphibious assaults, which primarily targeted Russian air defense and naval surveillance facilities in Crimea.
The secret unit’s best-known operations include the recapture of the strategically important island of Zminiy in the western Black Sea in July 2022 and attacks that captured four Russian-controlled oil platforms off the southern coast of Crimea in September 2023.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
