Berdiansk port attack

On 26 February 2022, Russian troops captured the Port of Berdiansk and the Berdiansk Airport. By the following day, the Russian military had taken full control of the city. Beginning on 14 March, the port was used as a logistics hub by the Russians to support their offensive in southern Ukraine and in particular the siege of Mariupol. On 21 March, Russian media Zvezda reported on the arrival of amphibious transports in Berdiansk. A Russian navy officer described it as "a landmark event that will open logistical possibilities to the Black Sea Navy". ==Attack==

The attack occurred at 7:45 on 24 March. Fire onboard the Saratov caused a large explosion, as the vessel was apparently laden with ammunition. Russia reported that the ship had sunk following a fire and explosions, but did not mention the Ukrainian attack. The explosion caused damage to two nearby s, the , and the . Both of these ships escaped the port while fighting their own fires, and later returned to Crimea. Other damage included large oil tanks on the pier and a nearby merchant ship that had been moored there since before the invasion, both of which were still burning the next day. Ukrainian officials claimed that the attack was carried out with a OTR-21 Tochka tactical ballistic missile. ==Aftermath==

Satellite imagery later confirmed the Saratov had sunk in the harbour, with its superstructure visible above the surface. As of 31 March, no further attempts to resupply with amphibious ships had been observed, according to the United States Department of Defense. At the time, the attack that sank Saratov was not mentioned by Russia. On 2 July Russia announced that the ship had been damaged by a missile strike and scuttled by its crew "to prevent detonation of the on-board munitions", and that it had been salvaged and would be towed to Kerch in Crimea. Both Novocherkassk and Tsezar Kunikov were later repaired and returned to service. On 26 December 2023 Novocherkassk was sunk and Tsezar Kunikov was destroyed on 14 February 2024. == See also ==