Putin ship blitzed by Ukraine's jets

Large landing vessel used to transport tanks destroyed | Shapps: Dominance of Black Sea fleet now being challenged

- ANDY LINES

A KEY Russian warship was destroyed yesterday in a surprise Ukrainian air force attack on a Black Sea port.

The airstrike on the Novocherkassk took place at Feodosiya in Russianoccupied Crimea.

Defence Minister Grant Shapps said yesterday Russia's dominance in the Black Sea "is now challenged".

He said: "Those who believe there's a stalemate in the Ukraine war are wrong. Over the past four months, 20 percent of Russia's Black Sea Fleet has been destroyed." Russia's Ministry of Defence said the large landing ship, used to transport tanks, was damaged by Ukrainian aircraft carrying guided missiles.