Ukrainian forces have already carried out successful attacks on the patrol ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Sergey Kotov, but the ship was able to recover after repairs, but this time it was definitely destroyed, representative of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Yusov said.

"The Main Intelligence Agency, in cooperation with the naval forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, carried out a brilliant operation, and Sergei Kotov was definitely destroyed this time. Why this time? Since it was not the first time they hunted him and there were already successful attacks, but he was able to recover after repair work," Yusov said on Radio Liberty.

He said there were only two attempts to attack the ship: in July and September 2023.

According to the Intelligence Agency's representative, the enemy planned to place an air defense system on the ship, and "the fewer such ships, correspondingly fewer anti-aircraft missile systems will be deployed, and this means more opportunities for the Ukrainian security and defense forces."

In addition, the Sergei Kotov ship, together with the also destroyed cruiser Moskva, took part in attacks on Zmiinyi Island.

Ukrainian intelligence is seeking information about the fate of the ship's crew. It is known that there are dead and wounded.

"As for the crew, the situation is being clarified. There are dead and wounded, but there is also a possibility that part of the crew was able to evacuate. We know of more than ten ambulances that were called by the enemy on the nearest landmass, that is, the evacuation operation was still carried out," Yusov said.

The Main Intelligence Agency within the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported on March 5 that the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov was destroyed.