Media: Russian Mine Countermeasures Ship Vladimir Kozitsky Blown Up In Sevastopol

Russia's newest ship 'went up in smoke' on the outer roadstead of the Bay of Sevastopol.

The Russian anti-mine ship Vladimir Kozitsky has exploded in the Bay of Sevastopol.

This was reported by the Crimean Wind telegraph channel.

The mission of the Vladimir Kozitsky, the latest hydrographic reconnaissance mine countermeasures ship of the 23040G project, is to search for sea mines on the seabed. It appears to have found what it was looking for.

According to witnesses, the ship suddenly exploded on the outer roadstead of Sevastopol Bay, where it had been slowly circling for several days. There were reports of smoke coming from the engine room.

A tugboat was brought to the "smoking" ship and pulled it towards Streltskaya Bay.

The boats of project 23040G with full displacement of 192.7 tonnes are 33 m long and 6.8 m wide. The average draught is 1.6 m. The vessels are equipped with two 248 kW diesel engines, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 13 knots.