Furious Putin 'orders Crimea commanders to the frontline' as punishment for humiliating sinking of Black Sea ship

28 December 2023, 09:06

Putin is furious at the loss of another ship in the Black Sea
Putin is furious at the loss of another ship in the Black Sea. Picture: Alamy/Social media

By Will Taylor

Furious Vladimir Putin has ordered commanders in Crimea to join the frontline after losing another important warship.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Novocherkassk, a tank landing ship in Feodosiya, Crimea, was hit by a British cruise missile fired by a Ukrainian Su-24 jet on Tuesday.

Its massive detonation - possibly triggered by a shipment of notorious Iranian Shahed suicide drones, used by Russia to batter Ukraine - has left 52 of the 77 sailors aboard missing or injured.

It is thought the real death toll may be even higher given the size of the blast.

Read more: Russian navy ship 'destroyed' off Crimea, as Britain claims 20% of Kremlin's Black Sea fleet knocked out

The attack is humiliating for Putin, who has watched his Black Sea fleet get decimated since he launched his invasion last year.

Ukrainian partisans now claim he is furious, and has ordered raids against possible pro-Kyiv resistance members on the Crimean peninsula, which he annexed through force in 2014.

Atesh, a partisan group, said on Telegram that residents were having their smartphones seized and houses searched.

Putin is said to have ordered commanders in Crime to the front as a punishment
Putin is said to have ordered commanders in Crime to the front as a punishment. Picture: Alamy

"It is reported that Putin is completely furious over the destruction of the Novocherkassk large landing ship," they wrote.

"An order was issued to punish the Crimean air defence forces. It is expected that many commanders will be removed and sent to the front to participate in assault groups."

Such units are almost a death sentence in Ukraine.

Several have been formed from convicts, released from jail specifically to be thrown into a conflict that has effectively become a stalemate.

The ship's destruction has infuriated Putin
The ship's destruction has infuriated Putin. Picture: Social media

In a bid to break Ukrainian lines, assault groups are used as disposable infantry, designed to draw fire so more capable Russian units can then target Kyiv's defenders.

Such a posting for commanders who had so far seen out the war on the holiday peninsula - albeit one that has become a major target for Ukrainian attacks - would demonstrate how furious Putin is.

Last year, he lost the Black Sea fleet's flagship the Moskva, which Ukraine has memorialised as a key moment in its campaign for freedom.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Hamzah Adam-Desai won a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for the MS Amlin Peace of Mind Garden

Mental health takes centre stage at the Chelsea Flower Show

Alessandro Coatti, 38, was found dead two days after he was first reported missing.

London scientist dismembered in Colombia killing was lured to his death in ‘Grindr honeytrap,’ cops fear

A Palestinian man rescues a premature baby who was next to his mother, who was martyred in an Israeli air strike that targeted their home in Gaza City. Palestine.

'Utterly chilling': 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in next 48 hours if aid does not reach them, UN official says

Manchester United's Harry Maguire and Tottenham's Son Heung-min are set for the Champions League final

Europa League final: Time, lineups, injuries, TV details

Ahmed Ramadan Mohamad Ebid is believed to be the first person convicted in the UK of organising Mediterranean boat crossings from North Africa to Europe

Smuggler who trafficked thousands of migrants across Mediterranean jailed for 25 years

A woman shopping for bargain foods in supermarket UK

Major UK supermarket supplier that stocks Tesco, Sainsbury's and Aldi 'held to ransom' by hackers

Councillor's wife Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for a racist online post, has lost her appeal to have her sentence reduced.

'No mercy' for councillor's wife jailed for racist tweet as early release bid denied

Tommy Robinson will be released from prison next week after his sentence for contempt of court was reduced in a successful High Court appeal.

Tommy Robinson to be freed from jail next week as sentence reduced by four months in High Court appeal

Denzel Washington argues with a photographer upon arrival at the premiere of the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes.

'STOP IT!': Denzel Washington snapped yelling at photographer on Cannes red carpet

Pro-Syrian regime fighters are seen at the Ain al-Fijeh water pumping station, in the countryside of Damascus, on January 29, 2017.

Damascus suffers worst water shortage in years as Syria sees lowest rainfall in almost seven decades

Jurgen Klopp in the stands to watch Red Bull Leipzig - one of the clubs he oversees in his role as global head of football for Red Bull

Jürgen Klopp tipped for shock return to management

All leading providers in Spain, including Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Digimobil, and O2, are suffering from the outage.

Spain struck by phone and internet blackout - just four weeks after nationwide electricity outage

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Jack Grealish's future will be decided at the end of the season

Jack Grealish's Man City future will be decided at the end of the season, Pep Guardiola reveals

Fans of Manchester United and Tottenham will arrive on Bilbao for the Europa League final

Football fans face paying thousands of pounds for Europa League final trips

Sarah Ruggins

Cyclist who lost ability to walk as teenager due to rare condition breaks world record for cycling length of UK and back

Police Community Support Officers stand near the fire damaged doorway of a house belonging to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Kentish Town in London, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Romanian man is second person to be charged over series of fires at properties in north London linked to Keir Starmer