Media: Russian landing ship allegedly sunk by drones in Black Sea.

Editor's note: This is a developing story and will continue to be updated. The Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was allegedly sunk by drones in the Black Sea in the morning of Feb.

14, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources from Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). If confirmed, it would the fourth landing ship from Russia's Black Sea Fleet to be sunk since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed earlier on Feb.

14 that it had shot down nine drones overnight, including six over the Black Sea. Local Telegram channels then shared videos of helicopters circling low over the water, appearing to be searching for something. Ukrainska Pravda said that sources from Ukraine's military intelligence claimed that its operatives were responsible for the attack, and said that the Caesar Kunikov sank as a result.

The Caesar Kunikov's sister ship, the Novocherkassk, was "completely destroyed" by a Ukrainian missile strike in December 2023 while docked at Feodosia in occupied Crimea, the U.K. Defense Ministry said. The Novocherkassk and Caesar Kunikov are mid-size vessels with a length of almost 113 meters, designed for amphibious landings, and can carry armored vehicles, according to a U.S. military factsheet cited by CNN.

They have a crew of around 87 and can host almost 240 personnel.

Both ships were previously damaged by Ukrainian attacks at the port city of Berdiansk in March 2022.

Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russia's Black Sea fleet since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, including the sinking of the flagship cruiser Moskva in April 2022 and a devastating missile attack on the fleet's headquarters in occupied Crimea that reportedly killed more than 30 officers.