In a significant blow to Russia's naval capabilities, a Ukrainian commander has revealed that the country's Black Sea Fleet has been severely weakened, with only one missile ship remaining operational. Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk made the announcement during an interview with Ukrainian TV, stating that most of Russia's combat units, including carriers of cruise missiles, have been relocated, leaving only a lone vessel behind.

The sole remaining ship in Crimea's Black Sea Fleet is identified as Russia's Cyclone warship, a Karakurt-class corvette. Pletenchuk emphasized that this vessel, dubbed a "loser," has not yet launched a single missile.

The Ukrainian Navy has been successfully utilizing missiles and drones to carry out strategic strikes on Russian ships, mainly targeting Sevastopol, Russia's major Black Sea port in Crimea. According to a senior UK Royal Navy officer, approximately 25% of Russia's vessels in the Black Sea have been either sunk or damaged.

In the latest wave of attacks over the weekend, Ukraine targeted the Russian fleet at Sevastopol, resulting in four ships being struck by missiles. Among the vessels hit were two large landing ships, the Yamal and the Azov, as well as the spy ship Ivan Khurs and the Konstantin Olshansky large landing ship, which was previously seized from Ukraine during Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The deteriorating situation has led the UK's defense minister to declare the Black Sea Fleet as "functionally inactive" following the latest Ukrainian attack on March 25. Furthermore, recent intelligence from the UK defense ministry has identified four Russian barges positioned at the entrance to the Black Sea Fleet facility in Novorossiysk. These barges serve as an additional defense measure against Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), which are remotely operated vessels packed with explosives and used to target Russian ships.

As a result of the relentless attacks on their traditional homeport of Sevastopol, some of the Black Sea Fleet's most valuable assets have sought refuge in Novorossiysk port in the eastern Black Sea, according to the UK defense department.

In a significant development, Russia's Adm. Viktor Sokolov, the former Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, was reportedly dismissed due to a series of successful Ukrainian attacks. It is anticipated that his successor, Vice Adm. Sergei Pinchuk, will take preventive measures to bolster the survival chances of Russian vessels.

With Ukraine's effective missile strikes and ongoing operations against Russian ships, the balance of power in the Black Sea continues to shift. The fate of Russia's decimated Black Sea Fleet hangs in the balance as tensions between the two nations persist.