Two Russian Serna-class landing craft were hit, Ukraine said
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Main Directorate of Intelligence [GUR] has reportedly broadcasted the annihilation of two Russian Project 11770 Serna landing crafts via naval drones. The information, alongside a corresponding video, has been disseminated through the eRadar Telegram channel.
Official confirmation was released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, supplemented by a reproduction of the recording on its Facebook page. According to official accounts, the incident transpired during a “night information” period, suggesting a likely occurrence either late on November 9 or in the early hours of November 10.
The Ukrainian military establishment asserts that, along with military personnel, the Russian crafts were laden with various types of armored land vehicles, notably the BTR-82. The ministry affirms that both crafts were participants in the previous year’s Snake Island landings and belong to the contingent of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Serna-class landing craft
The Serna class, known in the Russian context as Project 11770, refers to a generation of air cavity system landing crafts specifically designed for the Russian Navy. Between the period of 1994 and 2014, these landing crafts were manufactured by the renowned Vostochnaya Verf shipbuilding company, resulting in a total of twelve boats. Moreover, the upgraded export variant, Project 11771, saw four boats constructed in 1994.
The export-oriented Project 11771 resulted in the production of four unique ships, destined for foreign markets. Notably, Estonia became the proud owner of one of these ships, while the United Arab Emirates became the custodian of the remaining three.
A landing craft under the Serna class notably incorporates a sophisticated propulsion system featuring two M-503A-3 diesel engines with an impressive power output of 3,300 hp [2,500 kW]. Conversely, crafts numbered 807 through 811 use 2,000 hp [1,500 kW] MTU16V2000M90 diesel engines. Additionally, the landing crafts come equipped with two DG-16/1500 diesel generators, each capable of producing 16 kW.
The Serna-class landing crafts demonstrate superior speed and range. They can reach speeds up to 30 knots [56 km/h; 35 mph] and display an operational range of 600 nautical miles [1,100 km; 690 mi] when cruising at 12 knots [22 km/h; 14 mph]. Alternatively, they have a shorter range, 100 nautical miles [190 km; 120 mi], when operating at maximum speed.
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On the 21st of February, 2022, allegations emerged from Russia, asserting that a border facility under the jurisdiction of their Federal Security Service [FSB] had been decimated due to an aggressive shelling operation purportedly executed by Ukrainian forces. According to the Russian authorities, this unexpected and violent incursion resulted in the unfortunate demise of five Ukrainian combatants.
Ukraine, however, vehemently repudiated involvement in both occurrences, categorizing them as nothing more than deceptive maneuvers, or ‘false flags’.
In a significant development on the very day, the Russian government extended formal recognition to the self-proclaimed entities of DPR and LPR. This recognition, as per Putin, was not confined merely to the territories under their de-facto control, but encompassed the entire Ukrainian Oblasts. In an ensuing move, Putin commanded the mobilization of Russian military forces, inclusive of tanks, into the said regions.
Aggressive invasion
In a significant geopolitical development on the 24th of February, 2022, President Vladimir Putin of Russia commanded an aggressive military invasion into Ukraine. This act of aggression was executed by Russia’s formidable Armed Forces, which had been strategically amassed along the Ukrainian border in a show of ominous intent.
This invasion was not a random act of violence, but a meticulously planned operation, characterized by precise airstrikes that targeted key military infrastructures within the Ukrainian territory. Concurrently, an armored division of tanks rolled in from the Belarusian frontier, further intensifying the scale and impact of the offensive.
The Russian administration thus far has refrained from acknowledging the ongoing incursion into Ukraine as a “war”. This, despite the fact that the unfolding events bear all the hallmarks of a military conflict. Instead, the Kremlin insists on terming it a “special military operation”.
***
Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news, follow our Google News, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Our standards: Manifesto & ethical principles.