Not ATACMS 100%: aviation expert tells how Ukrainian army strikes military targets in Crimea

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"The strike on Askold is 100% not ATACMS. Regarding the attack on the plant in Kerch, Commander Mykola Leshchuk said that it was a precise strike, like with a scalpel. The Storm Shadow missile has a range of 250 kilometers. Many sources say that this missile has a range of 280 kilometers. The Ascold was hit 100% by a Storm Shadow missile. This missile has a warhead that first penetrates the hull and then explodes inside the ship. It is the Storm Shadow cruise missile that can deliver such a serious blow," explained Romanenko.

The aviation expert also noted that as for today's strike on the temporarily occupied Chornomorsk, we need to wait for official information.

"You need to look at the distance, if it is up to 70 km, then it is HIMARS. If it's more, it's Storm Shadow again," Romanenko emphasized.

What is known about the destruction of Askold

The Askold was the latest ship of the Karakurt project with stealth technology and eight shafts for launching Kalibr cruise missiles. One of its features was the presence of the Pantsir-S1 naval type, the ship's air defence system.

On November 4, explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Crimea: the Armed Forces confirmed successful strikes on the Zaliv shipyard and damage to the Russian Askold missile carrier.

On the morning of November 5, the damage to one of the most modern ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Kalibr cruise missile carrier, during yesterday's Kerch attack was confirmed by the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk. On November 6, the ministry confirmed the damage to the Russian missile carrier Askold and published a photo of the damaged ship. 

Subsequently, the Russian Defence Ministry recognized the missile attack on the Zaliv shipyard in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Radio Svoboda showed satellite images showing the damage to the ship. 

The ship was heavily damaged and probably beyond repair.