Ukrainian UAVs Struck Kalibr Missile Carrier Admiral Essen and Missile Boat 1241 Molniya

In Novorossiysk Bay, as a result of an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles on the night of March 2, the Russian frigate Admiral Essen (Project 11356R) was hit.

The main strike hit the ship’s midship superstructure, causing significant damage to critical components, according to OSINT analysts at CyberBoroshno.

As a result of the strike, the detonation of PK-10 passive jamming systems was recorded. These systems, located on the sides of the superstructure, are designed to fire heat traps and dipole reflectors to protect the ship from missile attacks.

The TK-25 electronic warfare system, which is responsible for detecting enemy radars and setting active jammers, was also disabled.

In addition, the MR-90 Orekh target illumination radars were damaged. These devices are an integral part of the anti-aircraft missile system’s guidance system, as they provide tracking of airborne objects in the final stage of the missiles’ flight.

The shock wave and debris also likely damaged the main surveillance radar, Fregat-M2M. This station is responsible for long-range detection of air and surface targets.

This ship carries Kalibr-NK cruise missiles, which are actively used in the war against Ukraine.

In addition to the frigate, a Russian Project 1241 Molniya missile boat was also hit during the attack. The main damage was recorded in the stern of the ship, where vital propulsion systems are located.

The stern engine room and main engines are located in the affected area of the boat. There are also two 30-mm AK-630M artillery mounts in the stern sector. These systems are used for close-range air defense and to destroy small targets within the ship’s range.

Additionally, diesel generators responsible for the stable power supply of all onboard systems are located in the impact zone. Disruption of their operation can lead to a complete power failure of the ship.

The crew’s service rooms located in this part of the boat, in particular the personnel dining room, were also damaged.

These boats are armed with P-270 Moskit anti-ship missiles. Currently, the Black Sea Fleet has two such boats — R-60 and Naberezhnye Chelny — and a third, Strelok, is undergoing sea trials outside the Black Sea. It should be recalled that in 2024, Ukrainian drones sank the Russian missile boat Ivanovets of the same project.