In a significant development off the coast of Crimea, Ukraine's military intelligence reported that they successfully sank a Russian warship. The guided missile ship, identified as the "Ivanovets," suffered multiple hits to its hull before ultimately sinking in the harbor of Lake Donuzlav.

Footage provided by Ukraine showed naval drones racing towards the Russian ship and exploding on impact, causing substantial damage. At the end of the video, the ship appeared to have completely submerged, with only its bow visible above water. However, it should be noted that CNN could not independently verify these claims or determine which vessel was struck and when.

Both Russia's Defense Ministry and the Kremlin have not yet commented on the incident, leaving the situation shrouded in uncertainty. This sinking adds to a series of strikes by Ukraine on Russia's Black Sea Fleet, as it continues to target strategic and symbolic blows against Russian forces that annexed Crimea back in 2014.

Ukraine's previous attacks on Crimea and Russian ships have aimed to isolate the peninsula and make it more difficult for Russia to sustain military operations on Ukrainian mainland. The April 2022 attack on the Moskva stands out as a notable strike, which compelled Russia to alter its operations near Ukrainian-controlled areas. The vessel, notorious for threatening to bomb Snake Island if Ukrainian soldiers did not surrender, received a memorable response from one soldier, exclaiming, "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."

The sinking of the Ivanovets follows Ukraine's missile assault on Crimea that began on Wednesday. Ukrainian Air Force Commander described the attack as part of their mission to "cleanse Crimea from the Russian presence." Ukraine launched 20 guided airborne missiles at Crimea, with Russian air defenses intercepting 17 over the Black Sea and three over the peninsula. The Belbek airfield near Sevastopol saw close-range interceptions, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.

The Russia-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, stated that their military successfully repelled the "massive" attack, shooting down more than six missiles. Although some buildings were hit by falling debris, resulting in broken windows and other damage, no injuries were reported.

The Belbek airfield, previously housing Ukraine's 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade, was mentioned in a Telegram post by Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk. Sharing a video of an explosion, Oleshchuk affirmed that Ukrainian aviators would eventually return to their home airfield. He thanked everyone who contributed to the cleansing of Crimea from the Russian presence.

Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command, echoed these sentiments, confirming that certain facilities on the peninsula were targeted. Independent verification of claims made by both sides remains challenging.

Amidst these escalating hostilities, speculations have emerged about the potential firing of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Tensions with President Volodymyr Zelensky have fuelled rumors, adding another layer of complexity to an already highly volatile situation.