Ukraine’s Ghosts special forces unit carried out a series of successful operations in February, targeting Russian military ships, boats, and aircraft in temporarily occupied Crimea, the Defense Minist...

Among the reported targets were a Project 22460 patrol ship.

Ukrainian forces have conducted a series of large-scale attacks on Russian Black Sea Fleet assets in recent weeks, striking targets in both occupied Crimea and the Novorossiysk naval base in successive operations. In February 2026, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence special unit “Prymary”—also known as the Ghosts—carried out a coordinated strike in occupied Crimea that hit multiple Russian military assets. The operation damaged a Project 22460 patrol ship, a Project 1496M1 sea tug, a Project 16640 vessel, and a BK-16 landing boat. Ukrainian forces also claimed hits on an S-400 radar installation, a Forpost reconnaissance UAV, and a Ka-27 helicopter. Ukrainian officials declared that “Crimea is no safe harbor for the occupiers.” Just weeks later, on the night of March 1-2, 2026, Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale drone attack against Novorossiysk, now the Black Sea Fleet’s primary operating base. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) and Defense Forces confirmed the operation, which Russian sources said involved approximately 200 drones. Three Russian warships sustained confirmed damage in the Novorossiysk strike. The minesweeper Valentin Pikul, a Project 266M vessel, reportedly suffered the most significant damage. Two Project 1124M Albatros-class anti-submarine ships, the Yeysk and the Kasimov, were also hit. Russian authorities reported three sailors killed...