Ukraine obliterates Russian Black Sea gas platform 'killing 40 soldiers'

The Ukrainians claim there were no civilians on board at the time the platform was hit.

15:11, Sat, Aug 10, 2024 | UPDATED: 15:23, Sat, Aug 10, 2024

An explosion rocks a gas platform in the Black Sea.

An explosion rocks a gas platform in the Black Sea. (Image: Ukrainian Government )

Ukraine has targeted and damaged a gas platform being used by the Russian military - the country has claimed.

The Ukrainian Navy and Military intelligence are reported to have carried out the joint attack on the site in the Black Sea on Friday night.

Ukrainian authorities claim Russia had placed military personnel and equipment on the platform and that no civilians were on it at the time of the strike.

Video footage, seemingly released by the Ukrainian military, appears to show the platform being hit by a projectile.

An explosion then rises from the right of the structure - sending flames rising high into the air and lighting up the water around it.

The gas platform

The gas platform shortly before the strike - according to video released online. (Image: Ukrainian Military )

There is no confirmation on casualties and Russia is yet to comment.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, a Ukrainian Navy spokesperson said: "The occupiers used this location for GPS spoofing to endanger civilian navigation. We cannot allow this.

"Yes, half a day before the strike, the enemy had placed equipment and military personnel on the platform. No civilians were there, and the platform was not performing its regular functions.

"The coastal rocket and artillery units of the Ukrainian Navy are extremely serious fighters, meaning they would not carry out an attack when it would have been dangerous for the environment or civilians."

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Aftermath of the strike on the gas platform

Aftermath of the strike on the gas platform (Image: Ukrainian Military)

The move would be the latest blow to Russia's war effort in the Black Sea, with the Ukrainians repeatedly using unmanned sea drones, rockets and other devices to harry Russian operations near the country's coastline.

The most infamous blow to Moscow's supremacy in the Black Sea came early in the war when the Moskva, a Russian missile cruiser, was sunk in April 2024.

Throughout the war, Ukraine has also repeatedly targeted Russian bases on the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, including its naval base at Sebastopol.

The Kerch Bridge, which connects occupied Crimea to Russia, has also come under seaborne attack as the fighting between the two nations continues.