Novocherkassk landing ship damaged in Feodosia strike cannot be restored

2 November, 2024 Project 775 Novocherkassk amphibious assault ship. Photo credits: Andrii Dubchak Russia has begun raising the remains of a large Project 775 amphibious assault ship in Feodosia, which is beyond repair.

This was reported by OSINTtechnical on his page on the X social media network. The relevant work on raising the main parts of the large amphibious assault ship Project 775 began at the end of October 2024. A photo with one of the parts of the amphibious ship's hull was published by a member of the Russian forum "Aviabaza", who is likely also involved in the salvaging operations.

Lifting the stern of the Novocherkassk large amphibious assault ship.

Photo credits: Forum "Aviabaza"

The published photo, according to the author, demonstrates the stern of the ship rising, indicating that it has been scrapped and cannot be restored due to a powerful explosion that occurred on board. The ship was attacked by the Ukrainian Air Force on December 26, 2023, while docked in the port of Feodosia in temporarily occupied Crimea. As a result of a missile strike, a massive fire started on board, followed by a powerful explosion.

At the time of the strike, the ship was being used to transport explosive cargo, probably ammunition. The ship's transportation of explosive cargo may also be evidenced by the strong detonation, which caused the ship to sink immediately. The Novocherkassk large amphibious assault ship became the fifth large amphibious assault ship of the Russian Navy to be destroyed in the Black Sea.

Even before the full-scale invasion began, the Russians reinforced the Black Sea Fleet with an additional number of amphibious assault ships, which they planned to use for the amphibious landing in Odesa. It should be noted that due to the active activities of the maritime drones of the Defense Forces, the Russian Navy is constantly redeployed in the Red Sea, which does not allow it to permanently deploy ships to one of the naval bases.

In addition, the withdrawal of these ships from the Black Sea is impossible, as under the Montreux Convention, Turkey, as the country controlling the strait, may take measures to restrict or suspend the passage of warships that may be used for military purposes.