LARGE RUSSIAN SHIP DESTROYED IN OCCUPIED PORT OF BERDIANSK

Thu 24 March 2022:

A Russian ship has been destroyed and burned down in the Azov Sea port of Berdiansk, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has reported.

It did not specify any details, but posted a video showing huge plumes of smoke rising from the port.

The ship, Orsk, is a beachable landing support ship for transporting paratroopers. The Perepichka news Telegram channel reported earlier Thursday that loud explosions were heard in Berdiansk.

A ship is reportedly on fire at Berdyansk port in Russian occupied southern-Ukraine on the Sea of Azov coast pic.twitter.com/Puw7sLYipu

— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) March 24, 2022

The town of 100,000 was taken over by Russian forces on February 27, three days after the invasion began.

Berdiansk was crucial for shipment of grain, vegetable oil and steel from Ukraine until Russia blockaded the Sea of Azov for Ukrainian and international vessels.

Thick plumes of black smoke were pictured billowing into the air by shocked locals who shared the images on social media.

They showed a Russian ship, believed to be from its military, ablaze with flames visible on the deck of the vessel. Some nearby have suggested another vessel has sank, although it has not been confirmed.

The shocking pictures were taken in occupied Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov.

As the ship burned several suggested they heard explosions nearby, while others believe it was the sound of thousands of rounds of ammunition burning.

The ship was seen on fire in the occupied port city of Berdyansk ( Image: Twitter)

The Ukrainian Navy has claimed the vessel was the landing ship Orsk.

They wrote on Facebook in a brief post: “A large paratroop ship Orsk of the black sea fleet of occupiers was destroyed in the occupied Russian port Berdyansk.

“Glory to Ukraine!”

Accompanying the post was a video of the heavily damaged ship burning in the port. A small explosion is clearly seen.

It is unknown if there were any casualties or what caused the blaze.