On the night of Friday, Russia carried out its most extensive air attack since the start of the war. One theory is that the attack is a response to Ukraine destroying a Russian ship a few days ago.
The attack at the port of Feodosia has caused Russian security services to work feverishly in the area, notes Jörgen Elfving, a military analyst specializing in Russia. The powerful explosion indicates that the ship was loaded with explosive substances of some kind.
– According to some sources, there have been drones and artillery ammunition on board and that this has given rise to the big explosion, he says.
According to Jörgen Elfving, the question is now whether it was pure luck or whether Ukraine had information about the ship’s cargo and deliberately selected it as a target.
Looking for informants
Something that indicates that Ukraine had the information is information that Russia is now intensively looking for informants.
– The Russian security service is now turning all of Feodosia upside down in search of possible information to the Ukrainian side, says Elfving.
According to him, there does not need to be anyone inside on the Russian side, but it can be enough that someone with binoculars was able to observe the ship and the cargo.
– There is a relatively active Ukrainian resistance movement in Crimea that collects intelligence for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Do you think they are looking among Russians too?
– Considering what I know about the Russian security service, they probably leave no stone unturned.
According to information from the UK Ministry of Defence, 20 percent of the Russian Black Sea Fleet has now been knocked out by Ukraine. Hear why it is so important for Ukraine to attack the Russian Navy in the video above.