As per sources cited by RBC-Ukraine, the fire broke out on April 7, engulfing the Serpukhov. The vessel is a small missile ship belonging to Project 21631 Buyan-M, being the fifth in its series.

The missile carrier was ablaze at the military naval base Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. The source did not specify the cause of the fire.

Kaliningrad is a Russian exclave located between the EU and NATO member states of Poland and Lithuania. The Suwałki Gap, which connects Poland and Lithuania and separates Kaliningrad from Belarus is considered of vital strategic importance and a possible flashpoint in a hypothetical conflict in which Russia would attempt to launch an attack against NATO and cut off the Baltic states from their allies.

Ship’s features

Serpukhov, a small missile ship belonging to Project 21631 Buyan-M, was initially part of the Black Sea Fleet until the end of 2016. Subsequently, since 2017, it has been incorporated into the Baltic Fleet.

Named after the city of Serpukhov, the ship was launched on April 3, 2015.

Ukraine's military intelligence published a video of Russia's frigate "Serpukhov" severely damaged in a naval base of "Baltiisk", so-called "Kaliningrad oblast" on the Baltic Sea. Ukraine continues hitting Russia, as this is the only way. pic.twitter.com/Wi0Keb8Q9A

— Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) April 8, 2024

According to publicly available information, the vessel is equipped with a vertical launch system (VLS) 3S14 capable of accommodating 8 Onyx cruise missiles. Additionally, there are plans to incorporate the 3M22 Zircon and Kalibr missiles, enabling strikes against ground targets up to a range of 1.500 kilometers (with non-nuclear warheads), or according to alternative data, up to 2000 kilometers.

The missile ship is also outfitted with two SAM launchers 3M-47 Gibka, along with two 14.5 mm and three 7.62 mm machine guns.

Russia’s naval losses

Since the onset of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russians have suffered significant losses, including vessels from the Black Sea Fleet. Recently, the Ukrainian military targeted large landing ships in Crimea, specifically the Yamal and Azov.

The Ukrainian Navy has also confirmed damage to the Russian medium reconnaissance ship Ivan Khurs.

On March 24, Ukrainian forces launched a missile strike against the large landing ship Konstantin Olshansky, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014 during the occupation of Crimea.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said in a statement to RBC-Ukraine that Ukrainian fighters have destroyed 4 large landing ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet since the commencement of the full-scale war, leaving the occupiers with only 5 operational amphibious assault ships.