Ukraine Sinks Russian Ship That Fired on Its Sailors in 2018 Using a New Drone

Satellite imagery has confirmed the destruction of the Russian border patrol ship *Izumrud* while it was docked at a mooring wall. Ukrainian forces struck the vessel using a Sargan-3000 naval drone, a precision weapon designed for sea attacks. The *Izumrud* was the same ship that opened fire on Ukrainian sailors in 2018, an incident that heightened tensions between the two nations. The attack marks a direct retaliation for that earlier confrontation. The Sargan-3000 drone, a relatively new system, allows Ukraine to target Russian naval assets without risking crewed vessels. This strike demonstrates Kyiv’s growing ability to threaten Russian ships even in protected harbors.