One person reported killed in attack that targeted the Novocherkassk, which Ukraine said was being used to transport Russian drones.

The Russian Navy landing ship Novocherkassk, pictured before the war in Ukraine [File: Sedat Suna/EPA]

Ukraine’s air force has said it attacked a Russian navy ship at a base in Russian-occupied Crimea, which Kyiv claimed was carrying drones for use in Moscow’s war.

The Novocherkassk, a large landing ship, was “destroyed” in its air attack, Ukraine’s air force said on the Telegram messaging platform on Tuesday.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence and officials confirmed the overnight Ukrainian attack, according to the Interfax news agency. The ministry said the ship was “damaged” after Ukraine used guided missiles launched by aircraft against the vessel in the Crimean port city of Feodosia.

One person was killed and two injured in the attack, the Moscow-installed governor of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, said on Telegram, adding that six buildings had been damaged and their residents evacuated.

The Ukrainian Air Force said: “People say that it [the Novocherkassk] transported Shaheds”, referring to Iranian explosive drones that Russia has used regularly to attack Ukraine.

Ukrainian commander Mykola Oleshchuk also posted a video of an explosion at the Russian naval base of Feodosia.

“And the fleet in Russia is getting smaller and smaller! Thanks to the Air Force pilots and everyone involved for the filigree work!” he wrote.

Russia seized and then annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

On Telegram, Aksyonov said the attack on Feodosia had triggered a fire that had been brought under control. “An enemy attack was carried out in the area of Feodosia … The port area is cordoned off,” he wrote.

Footage shared by several Russian news outlets on Telegram showed powerful explosions and fires over a port area.

Ukraine and Russia have often exaggerated the losses they claim to have inflicted on the other since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

They have also underplayed their own casualty and equipment losses.

In recent days, Moscow has claimed to have taken control of the eastern city of Maryinka, with Kyiv denying that it has.

Kyiv and Moscow have also each claimed success in shooting down the other’s fighter planes, with each side denying any losses.

In April 2022, Ukraine sank the cruiser Moskva, the Soviet-era flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.

Moscow said “a detonation of ammunition” triggered a fire and forced the crew to evacuate, and the ship sank as it was being towed to port.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES