Ukraine has attacked and destroyed a Russian tanker between the Crimean Peninsula and Russia, according to Russian authorities.
According to Russia expert Malcolm Dixelius, the attack is a major threat to President Putin’s future.
– If Crimea begins to sit loose purely militarily, then Putin will find it difficult to defend his position in the country, he says.
A Russian tanker in the Kerch Strait, between the Crimean Peninsula and Russia, has been damaged in a Ukrainian drone attack, according to Russian authorities.
Traffic on the strategic bridge connecting Crimea with Russia was briefly halted on Saturday night.
– It is a way to show Russia that “you are not keeping this peninsula safe. You are not the master of this area. We have the opportunity to disturb you, we have the opportunity to make it, if not uninhabitable, then in any case inconvenient for those who live there and for Russian interests,” says Malcolm Dixelius to TV4.
– And it is very sensitive from a Russian point of view.
“Extremely hard blow to Putin”
The annexation of Crimea in 2014 was seen as a great success for President Vladimir Putin, according to Dixelius. And the Crimean Peninsula is seen as an emotional part of Russia’s international identity.
Even Alexei Navalny, who is seen as a great hope for a more democratic Russia, has supported the annexation.
– When Ukraine now removes the gloss surrounding the conquest of Crimea, it is an extremely hard blow to Putin.
– This is decisive for how he will be seen in the future. It currently stands as an absolute stumbling block to meaningful negotiations. But it is doubtful how long Putin will be able to maintain the dictatorial position he has in the country if Ukraine threatens Crimea.
Increased attacks after the death of the grain deal
According to the Russian state news agency Tass, the sea rescue in Novorossiysk states that the engine room was damaged but that the crew survived.
Ukraine has not yet commented on the information from the official side, but a source within the Ukrainian security service tells the BBC that sea drones have been used.
On Friday, Ukraine said it had knocked out another large ship from the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the Kerch Strait. Russia then claimed that it had repelled the attack.
The number of attacks in the Black Sea has increased from both sides since Russia decided last month not to extend the grain agreement with Ukraine.