Ukraine's military intelligence agency has confirmed a raid on the Russian-controlled Tendra Spit in the Black Sea. The operation, which occurred on August 6, 2024, reportedly resulted in damage to Russian equipment and fortifications.
The agency released footage showing vessels transporting well-equipped personnel and troops disembarking on a shoreline. According to Ukrainian sources, the operation successfully neutralized a Russian electronic warfare system and damaged armored vehicles. The exact number of Russian casualties is currently being assessed.
Russian-installed authorities in the occupied part of Ukraine's Kherson region reported the incident a day prior to the Ukrainian confirmation. They claimed that Ukrainian forces attempted a landing using 12 high-speed vessels, with eight carrying troops and four providing fire support.
Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the outcome of the operation. While Ukraine's HUR military intelligence service states that their forces sustained no losses, the Russian-appointed governor of the occupied Kherson region asserts that three boats and their crews were eliminated.
The Tendra Spit, a sandy peninsula in the Black Sea, holds strategic importance for Ukraine's maritime access. This recent operation is not the first of its kind; a similar attack occurred in February 2024, with both sides presenting differing narratives of the event's outcome.
"Ukraine lost up to 25 servicemen in an unsuccessful landing attempt on the Tendra Spit."
"Some of our fighters were killed in a combat mission, but we cannot specify the number of casualties."
The ongoing conflict in the region has led to increased military activity in the Black Sea, a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean situated between Europe and Asia. The area's strategic significance has made it a focal point for both Ukrainian and Russian naval operations.
As the situation develops, the international community continues to monitor the conflict, with particular attention to the challenges it poses to established maritime law and regional stability.