"They Drowned": Russian Navy Losses in Three Years of War
On July 27, Russia celebrates Navy Day. In the third year of the war, it is being celebrated in a truncated format, without the traditional formation of ships and parades. The Kremlin fears drone attacks, which could destroy the last vestiges of its combat power.
NeMoskva recalls which ships have already been destroyed and how their loss has impacted the overall state of the Navy.
The hat fell, fell on the floor
The main naval parade, which was held in St. Petersburg for many years, canceled without explanation (even the message about the parade’s cancellation was removed from the city hall’s website).
The main celebrations have been moved to Kronstadt. However, there won't be a parade there either: instead of a display of ships, a concert by the band "Na-Na" and singer Aziza is planned.
In St. Petersburg, instead of warships, they're offering a performance by Alexander Rosenbaum—he'll sing on a naval theme.
Naval parades have also been canceled in Kaliningrad, Baltiysk, Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk, Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, Kaspiysk, Vladivostok, and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Almost everywhere, a "large concert featuring naval performance groups" and "meetings with veterans" are promised. Severodvinsk stands out, more or less, with a "foam disco" planned.
Losses in the Black Sea
During the three years of war with Ukraine, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has, of course, suffered the most significant losses: almost a third of it has been destroyed.
The most painful loss was the missile cruiser Moskva, which was the flagship and provided powerful air defense for the entire naval group.
Following this, the Russian navy was virtually driven out of Crimea: all the large ships that managed to escape missile attacks and drones are now based in Novorossiysk. Meanwhile, Russia plans to build a naval base in Abkhazia, far from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Since 2022, Ukraine has destroyed a total of approximately three dozen warships of various classes. Approximately half of them have been completely destroyed, while the others have returned to service after lengthy repairs (or are still undergoing them).
Not only ships but also the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters building in Sevastopol were attacked: in September 2023, it was hit by two Storm Shadow missiles. According to Ukraine, this resulted in the deaths of between 9 and 33 high-ranking commanders and officers. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported only one fatality (his status was later changed from "killed" to "missing in action").
See which ships were destroyed during the three years of war in the "NonMoscow" collection.
Missile cruiser Moskva
Moskva was the largest ship and flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The 186-meter cruiser was designed to strike large surface targets, ensure the security of large naval groups, and provide fire support for landing forces. It was armed with long-range missiles with a range of up to 1000 km, as well as the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, capable of engaging aerial targets at a range of up to 200 km (and detecting them within a radius of up to 300 km).
It was commissioned in 1983.
In August 2008, during the military conflict with Georgia, he was on duty off the coast of Abkhazia. In March 2014, he participated in the blockade of 13 Ukrainian ships in the Crimean port of Donuzlav. In 2015, he provided cover for Russian combat aircraft in Syria and monitored all air traffic in the Turkish-Syrian border area.
In February 2022, he participated in the capture of Zmeiny Island; it was he who was the subject of the famous phrase from a Ukrainian border guard: "Russian warship, go to hell."
On the night of April 13-14, the cruiser suffered serious damage and sank several hours later while being towed. According to Ukrainian authorities, the cruiser was attacked by two Neptune anti-ship missiles. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the flagship sank "due to damage to the hull caused by the detonation of ammunition during a fire."
The crew consisted of approximately 500 people. The exact number of sailors killed is unknown: the Ministry of Defense officially acknowledged the deaths of five, but other sources suggest the number could be 40.
The destruction of the missile cruiser Moskva is Russia's most costly military loss in the war with Ukraine: with an initial cost of approximately $2 billion, its residual value was $750 million. Shortly before the war, the vessel underwent a major overhaul, and it was claimed that "the ship would serve for decades."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian fishermen discovered the cruiser's emergency buoy: it was manufactured in 1981, with a three-year expiration date. Experts believe that equipment that is 38 years out of date reveals the true state of the Russian Armed Forces.
The wreckage of the sunken ship is included in the register of underwater cultural heritage of Ukraine.
Large landing ship "Saratov"
The large landing ship "Saratov" was in service since 1966.
Over 56 years, it participated in more than 20 long-distance cruises lasting six to eight months. The 113-meter vessel could carry up to 1,500 tons of cargo and equipment, including tanks, and could approach unimproved shores and land troops.
In 1999, he was involved in the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to Yugoslavia. During the military conflict with Georgia in August 2008, he was part of a group that was on duty off the coast of Abkhazia and engaged four enemy combat boats. He also landed Russian troops in the port of Poti with the aim of destroying Georgian Navy ships.
In 2014, he took part in the annexation of Crimea, making at least four trips to the Mediterranean Sea.
In 2022, it participated in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. On March 24, while unloading cargo at the port of Berdyansk, it was hit by a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile and sank at the pier. Several months later, Russian officials clarified that the damaged ship "was scuttled by the crew to prevent the detonation of its ammunition."
The crew numbered 55. Only three months after the explosion did Russian authorities confirm the death of at least one sailor—boiler room engineer Leonid Abdokov.
A year later, it was announced that as a result of the attack on the port in Berdyansk, 12 people from three landing ships were killed (how many of them were members of the crew of the large landing ship "Saratov" is not specified).
The ship was raised, towed to Kerch and cut up for scrap metal.
Large landing ship "Novocherkassk"
The large landing ship Novocherkassk has been part of the Black Sea Fleet since 1987.
The 112-meter vessel was designed for landing large amphibious forces and equipment on undeveloped coastlines. The ship could transport 10 tanks and 225 marines at a time.
In 2015, he participated in supplying the Russian combat group in Syria.
After the outbreak of a full-scale war with Ukraine, it was used as a transport for delivering ammunition, weapons and manpower.
Twice attacked by Ukraine.
The first time was on March 24, 2022, when the vessel was unloading at the port of Berdyansk. As a result of a Ukrainian missile strike, it lost three crew members and sustained damage.
The second time was on December 26, 2023, while docked at the Feodosia commercial port. After being hit by Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a massive fire broke out on the ship. According to one theory, this led to the detonation of the explosive cargo being carried on the ship. The force of the explosion was so powerful that debris from the Novocherkassk scattered across the city, shattering windows in houses near the port. According to official Russian authorities, one crew member was killed and four others were injured in the attack. Other sources indicate that as many as 74 service members may have died.
In the first hours after the explosion, the media reported that “in these pieces of charred and badly damaged metal” it was almost impossible to determine the type of ship.
BDK "Caesar Kunikov"
The large landing ship Caesar Kunikov entered service in 1989.
The 112-meter vessel could carry up to 500 tons of equipment and cargo, as well as take on board 225 paratroopers.
In 1999, he took part in the deployment of peacekeeping forces to Yugoslavia. In August 2008, he led a group of ships that engaged four Georgian combat boats. In 2015, he delivered weapons and ammunition to the Syrian army. While transiting the Bosphorus Strait, a sailor was spotted on board the ship carrying what appeared to be a MANPADS. Turkey viewed this as a provocation. In response, Russia asserted the "legitimate right of any crew" to protect its vessel.
After the outbreak of full-scale war with Ukraine, it was used to transport weapons and ammunition from Novorossiysk to Crimea. On March 22, 2022, it was seriously damaged during a Ukrainian missile attack on the port of Berdyansk. Its 34-year-old commander, Alexander Chirva, died of his wounds.
After repairs, the ship returned to service. It sank on February 14, 2024, off the coast of Alupka, after being attacked by six naval drones. The landing ship sustained critical damage on both sides.
According to a BBC source, there were 89 people on the ship at the time of the attack, all of whom survived. Ukraine, however, reported that most of the sailors were killed.
Corvette "Sergey Kotov"
The modern patrol ship "Sergey Kotov" entered service in May 2022. It was designed to protect maritime zones and convoys. It carried a 76-mm artillery mount, machine guns, anti-aircraft missile systems, and a platform for a Ka-27 attack helicopter.
The 91-meter vessel could reach speeds of up to 55 km/h and had an endurance of up to 60 days.
The hunt for the corvette lasted for more than a year: attempts were made to attack it in July, August, and September 2023 (during the last attack, it suffered significant damage).
After repairs, the vessel returned to service, but on March 5, 2024, it was attacked again: Ukrainian naval drones detected it near the Kerch Strait. The vessel sustained holes on both its port and starboard sides. Furthermore, one of the drones exploded inside the vessel.
According to Ukraine, seven sailors were killed and six more were injured in the attack. The ship could not be towed to port; due to the damage it sustained, it sank 5 kilometers from the shore.
Rocket ship "Cyclone"
The newest missile ship, the Cyclone, entered service in July 2023. It is one of seven Project 22800 Karakurt ships commissioned by the Russian Navy. Each ship costs over two billion rubles.
The small missile ship is designed for combat missions on the high seas. It can carry Kalibr cruise missiles (with a range of up to 2,6 km) and Onyx anti-ship missiles (with a range of up to 300 km). It also carries a surface-to-air missile and gun system capable of engaging all types of aerial targets at a range of up to 20 km and an altitude of up to 15 km.
The 67-meter vessel is capable of speeds of up to 55 km/h and is said to be "equipped with a very powerful suite of electronic equipment, including the latest generation of electronic warfare systems." The vessel can be paired with the Orlan-10 tactical reconnaissance drone, which has a range of up to 120 km.
The Cyclone served in the Black Sea Fleet for less than a year: on the night of May 19, 2024, it was sunk following a missile attack on the port of Sevastopol.
Another ship in this series, the small missile ship Askold, was damaged in November 2023 and has not yet entered service.
Raptor patrol boats
Project 03160 Raptor high-speed patrol boats have been in production since 2013. They are primarily designed for coastal protection and patrol, as well as for transporting small landing parties of up to 20 personnel and conducting search and rescue operations.
The 17-meter boat is capable of reaching speeds of up to 88 km/h.
It carries a combat mount capable of detecting targets at a distance of up to 3 km, calculating their trajectory, and adjusting the fire of its 14,5 mm machine gun "accounting for external factors." This allows it to destroy lightly armored targets on water, land, and in the air.
From 2013 to 2021, the Leningrad Shipyard produced 18 such boats for the Russian Navy.
One of them was irretrievably lost in May 2022 in a battle near Zmeiny Island. Three more boats of this class were damaged in the same battle and had to be sent for long-term repairs.
Earlier, on March 22, 2022, another Raptor was damaged after being hit by two anti-tank missiles during the battle for Mariupol.
Landing craft "Serna"
The Project 11770 high-speed landing craft has been in production since 1993. It is designed for landing troops and equipment on unimproved shores. The 26-meter vessel can carry up to 92 personnel and weapons, or military equipment weighing up to 45 tons (one tank or two armored personnel carriers).
The boat is capable of independently refloating and reaching speeds of up to 30 knots. It is unarmed.
Of the 12 boats built for the Russian Navy, at least two sank during the war with Ukraine.
The first was sunk in May 2022 after an aerial drone attack near Zmeiny Island. A few weeks later, it was raised by a floating crane and delivered to Sevastopol for repairs.
The second was damaged by a naval drone in November 2023 while transporting an armored personnel carrier off the northern coast of Crimea. According to unconfirmed reports, the boat's commander was killed, but the vessel returned to service after repairs.
Rescue tugboat "Rescuer Vasily Bekh"
The rescue ship Vasily Bekh was commissioned into the Russian Black Sea Fleet in 2017. It was tasked with various types of rescue operations, including extinguishing fires, performing diving operations at depths of up to 60 meters, towing ships in distress, and providing first aid to their crews.
The 57-meter vessel had a crane, a diving system with a pressure chamber, and an unmanned underwater vehicle with a depth capability of up to 400 meters.
After the war with Ukraine began, it was equipped with a Tor anti-aircraft missile system, capable of hitting air targets within a 16-kilometer radius. According to Ukraine, the Russian army used the rescue ship to deliver ammunition, weapons, and troops to Zmeiny Island. On June 17, 2022, the ship sank after being hit by two Harpoon anti-ship missiles. According to unconfirmed reports, 11 people were killed in the attack.
Landing craft "Akula"
In November 2023, following an attack by a Ukrainian naval drone, the landing craft "Akula," assigned to the Black Sea Fleet back in 1989, was destroyed.
The 24-meter vessel was designed to unload troops and heavy equipment onto unimproved beaches. The boat could carry up to 50 tons of cargo (one battle tank or two trucks).
There is no information on casualties as a result of the attack.
Patrol ship "Tarantula"
Project 205P border patrol ships were produced from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s. They were officially decommissioned from the Russian Navy by the early 2000s, but several units continued to serve with the FSB Coast Guard.
The small 40-meter vessel could reach speeds of up to 67 km/h and carried the armament of a small anti-submarine ship, including 40mm machine guns, four torpedo tubes, and depth charge launchers. This allowed it to hunt submarines, defend against air raids, land troops, and escort small convoys.
The Tarantula's endurance reached 15 days. Its detection range for aerial targets was up to 300 km, for surface targets up to 35 km, and for underwater targets up to 8 km.
In December 2023, one of these ships was sunk in Grafskaya Bay in Sevastopol after an attack by a Ukrainian unmanned boat.
Missile boat "Ivanovets"
Project 1241 "Molniya" missile boats were produced from 1979 to 1996. They were designed to destroy enemy warships and provide air cover for small convoys. For this purpose, each vessel carried four launchers for anti-ship cruise missiles, a short-range self-defense anti-aircraft missile system, and 76-mm artillery mounts.
The 56-meter vessel could reach speeds of up to 77 km/h and had an endurance of up to 10 days.
The Molniya project boats also had an electronic warfare system and a passive jamming device (it fired heat flares, diverting enemy missiles).
One such boat, named "Ivanovets" and commissioned in 1989, was attacked by unmanned naval vehicles on January 31, 2024, off Lake Donuzlav in Crimea. It sank as a result of damage—according to one theory, its anti-ship missiles detonated.
It is known that in 2014, the Ivanovets was involved in security operations for the Sochi Winter Olympics. It later conducted a mission to the coast of Syria.
The crew consists of 40 people. According to the Ministry of Defense, the personnel were evacuated.