The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that, during the night of August 20, its forces thwarted an attempted sabotage operation by the Ukrainian military in the Black Sea. According to the ministry, a group of Ukrainian boats departed from Odesa and headed toward Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea.

Officials explained that Ukrainian forces tried to carry out the operation using landing craft, moving from Odesa in the direction of the Crimean peninsula. The attempt was intercepted with the involvement of drone units from the Rubikon Test Center, which develops advanced unmanned technologies.

At a distance of 72 kilometers from the Crimean coast, one of the Ukrainian boats was destroyed by a Lancet loitering munition. The strike was monitored and confirmed by a Zala reconnaissance drone, the ministry said.

To underscore its account, the Russian Defense Ministry also released video footage showing the moment the Ukrainian vessel was hit.

Reports of Ukrainian attempts to approach Crimea had earlier been mentioned by Vladimir Saldo, the head of the Kherson region.