Russian Cruiser Ochakov was sunk last night to block Ukrainian ships.
Naval Today reported, via Free Republic:
The Russian Navy Ochakov Kara-class cruiser was sunk last night to block the Ukrainian Navy ships deployed in Novoozerne, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence said in a press release today.
The information was confirmed by the Ukrainian military of the South Naval Base who were observing the operation.
The RF ships blocking the Ukrainian ships in Donuzlav lake in the Crimea left the zone at 23.30 p.m. (March 5).
Then, the Russian military towed their ship Ochakov to the navigating channel and filled her with water. Then, there was an explosion. The depth in this area is 9-11 m, it is possible now to observe the upper part of the ship. Therefore, the ships cannot leave the Donuzlav lake. It is needed a lot of time and costs to refloat this ship, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
Ochakov was stationed in the Russian Black Sea Fleet as of 2011, however it has not been operational since the early 2000.
Novoozerne is off Donuzlav lake in western Crimea.
Russia may have sunk two ships – not one.
#Russia sinks 2 of its aging ships to block #Ukraine warships; Pervalne, Kerch, Feodosiya blocked by #Russians desp #OSCE mission. #Crimea
— Ukrainian Updates (@Ukroblogger) March 6, 2014