The Russians claim a drone attack on Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship

The Russians report an attack on Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship of project 18280 in the Black Sea.

Information on this was published in one of the propaganda Telegram channels.

They claim that the ship was attacked by three naval drones. This happened after passing the Bosphorus, 40 nautical miles north of the strait.

It is claimed that the attack was repelled and the ship was not damaged.

However, there is still no actual confirmation of attack the attack happening at all.

It is worth noting that Article 19 of the Montreux Convention prohibits the passage of warships through ports for states at war but allows the passage of ships that are separated from their bases so that they can return to their home ports.

In July 2022, the Ivan Hurs ship was spotted in Sevastopol Bay.

It should be noted that the Russian side can use disinformation both about the ship’s passage through the Bosphorus and the alleged attack. The goal might be to discredit the “grain corridor”.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative allows Ukraine to export grain and food products via the Black Sea. It was signed in July 2022 and got extended several times after that.

In March 2023, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that Moscow had notified the participants of the agreement of its extension for only 60 days instead of 120. The agreement was due to expire on May 18.

On May 23, Yuriy Vaskov, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine noted that the Ukrainian Pivdennyi Port has stopped working because Russia does not allow ships to enter it.

Ivan Khurs

The Ivan Khurs reconnaissance ship is the second Project 18280 vessel, constructed by Shipbuilding Plant Severnaya Verf JSC in St. Petersburg and designed by Central Design Bureau Iceberg OJSC.

The vessel is intended to provide communications, fleet command, and electronic warfare.

Brief specifications:

Displacement: 2500 tons (standard), 4000 (full load)
Length: 96 m
Beam: 16 m
Draft: 4 m
Propulsion: 2×2720 hp 5DRA diesels, 2 fixed pitch propellers, ADG-630 x630 kW diesel-generators
Speed: 20 knots
Range: 8000 nmi (16 knots)
Crew: 131 sailors
Armament: 6 9K38 Igla SAM system launchers (32 9M39 missiles) 2×1 14,5 mm MTPU-1 Zhalo

The vessel was laid down on November 14, 2013, and launched on May 16, 2017. It was commissioned on June 25, 2018, and arrived in occupied Sevastopol in January 2019.