Ukraine says it has sunk a Russian submarine before launching drone strikes across the border

A Russian submarine has been sunk in Crimea, according to the Ukrainian military.

Kyiv’s defence ministry said Ukraine had sunk the sub in Russian-controlled Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea, in an attack on Saturday.

The B-237 Rostov-on-Don submarine attack was sent “to the bottom of the Black Sea,” Ukrainian forces added.

They also said four launchers of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft Triumf defense system were significantly damaged in the same attack.

Hours later, Ukraine launched a wave of drone strikes, according to Russian officials.

In a statement on Saturday evening, Russia’s defense ministry said 75 Ukrainian drones were “intercepted and destroyed” above a number of regions on or near the border between the two countries.

The ministry added 36 drones were destroyed over Rostov, while the region’s governor said they were attacked by 55 and that “warehouse facilities” in the Morozovsk and Kamensky districts took damage in the strikes.

Ukraine’s general staff then said its forces hit an airfield in Morozovsk, where they struck ammunition depots with guided air bombs, as well as fuel depots in Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov.

The drone attacks mark the latest use of weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Ukraine was given to partial green light by the West to use some ammunition across the border in June.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his country’s forces for hitting airfields, oil depots and other targets on Saturday.

He said: “These actions are most effective when the consequences of Russia’s war are brought back home to Russia and when there is no safe place for the enemy on the occupied territory of our state.

“I thank each and every warrior involved.”

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This week the first F-16 fighter jets were delivered to Ukraine to help in its defense against the Russian invasion.

The F-16s have been on Ukraine’s wishlist since the outbreak of the war with Russia in 2022, and are equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.