One of Ukraine’s naval drones reached Putin’s palace coastline as it sank a Russian patrol ship docked in the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik.
The domestically-produced Sargan-3000 destroyed a 200ft-long-vessel called the Emerald, killing some crew members and injuring others.
The strike is the latest escalation in Kyiv’s unmanned maritime campaign, demonstrating the extent to which Ukrainian naval drones have helped Volodymyr Zelensky exercise greater control in the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s navy published a satellite photo of the destroyed ship – operated by Russia’s FSB security service – which appeared to have broken in half from the impact.
The Russian town of Gelendzhik is less than 15 miles from a sprawling palace that was the focus of an investigation by the late opposition activist Alexei Navalny.
According to the Kremlin critic, the closely guarded complex was built for the Russian dictator.
Navalny claimed the property cost £1bn and was paid for ‘with the largest bribe in history’, funded by a circle of businessmen close to Putin.
The nearly two-hour video showed a lavish compound decked out with ostentatious features, including an ornate tea house, an amphitheater and a helipad.
