Ukraine sank Russia's Caesar Kunikov: UK intelligence assesses consequences

The British intelligence reports. 

They noted that the Caesar Kunikov played an important role in the logistics of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the Russian war in Ukraine.

"The loss of the vessel will almost certainly further constrain the limited Russian resources available in the Black Sea and leave the Black Sea Fleet logistical chain vulnerable to additional attacks," the report said.

British intelligence pointed out that Russia's loss of the ship would also reduce reserves to support logistics transportation between mainland Russia and Crimea, in case the Crimean bridge is closed. 

"Ukraine's ingenuity has highly likely deterred Russia from operating freely in the western Black Sea and enabled Ukraine to seize the maritime momentum from Russia," the British intelligence added.

• On the morning of Wednesday, February 14, Ukrainian defenders, together with the Intelligence Service of Ukraine, targeted the Russian large amphibious assault ship Caesar Kunikov in the Black Sea.

• Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, told Radio Svoboda that after the destruction of the ship in the Black Sea, only five of the 13 ships of the Black Sea Fleet remained "in service."