Russian Grachonok-Class Boat Struck Near Kaspiysk

A Russian Grachonok-class anti-sabotage boat was struck near Kaspiysk.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported that the operation took place on May 17 and during the night of May 18. The extent of the damage is being assessed.

Project 21980 boats are designed to protect Russian naval bases. The boats Yunarmeets Dagestana, Yunarmeets Kaspiya, and Yunarmeets Tatarstana are based in the Caspian Sea.

Their main task is to combat sabotage and terrorist groups at Russian naval bases.

The boat is equipped with a 14.5 mm naval machine gun, DP-65A and DP-64 anti-sabotage grenade launchers, as well as a portable anti-aircraft missile system. Onboard are Kalmar hydroacoustic systems and Anapa stations for monitoring the underwater environment and detecting saboteur divers.

In the Russian Black Sea Fleet, these boats are additionally equipped with protective grilles for protection against Ukrainian drones.

This is not the first time Ukrainian forces have struck boats of this type. As a result of a strike on the night of April 30 against a Project 21980 Grachonok boat, nine crew members were killed, and two others were wounded.