The Ukrainian military has successfully reclaimed control of the Boyko Towers, a collection of platforms and jackups located off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea, as reported by Ukraine’s defense intelligence service.
In a statement, the service revealed that a remarkable operation led by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine resulted in the recapture of key assets, including the Petro Hodovalets and Ukraina drilling platforms, as well as the Tavrida and Syvash rigs. These installations had been under Russian control since 2015, dating back to the early stages of the invasion. Their strategic location had been exploited by Russia for various purposes, such as observation posts, radar surveillance platforms, and helipads to support operations in the northwestern Black Sea region.
NEW: #Ukraine's military intelligence (GUR) claims to have recaptured the "Boiko Towers" drilling rigs in the Black Sea, after clashing with Russian.
GUR says “Russia occupied them [Boiko Towers] in 2015, and with the beginning of the full-scale invasion, used them for military… pic.twitter.com/m4v6WhtoF4
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) September 11, 2023
During this operation, Ukrainian special forces managed to disable a Russian Su-30 fighter aircraft using a portable surface-to-air missile. Additionally, they seized valuable assets, including missiles, a surface search radar, and ammunition for helicopter gunships. It’s worth noting that Russian and Ukrainian forces use similar equipment, making captured items readily employable. The conflict over the rigs traces back to 2014-15 when Russian forces seized them from the Ukrainian state-owned energy company, Chornomornaftogaz. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in early 2022, Ukraine has made several attempts to regain control of these platforms.
This operation, akin to the recent Ukrainian strike on an S-400 missile battery on the Crimean coast, weakens Russia’s defensive perimeter around the Crimean peninsula. Collectively, these actions enhance Ukraine’s capability to target Russian forces in Crimea with drone and missile strikes.
Furthermore, this development aligns with Ukraine’s ambition to reopen a Black Sea trade route for merchant vessels, especially bulk carriers involved in the grain trade. Last year’s expulsion of Russian forces from Snake Island served a comparable strategic purpose by removing a significant Russian anti-ship threat, allowing merchant ships to navigate past and access loading ports on the Danube River.
Indirectly, this operation underscores the capacity of Ukrainian forces to conduct small-boat operations to within approximately 70 nautical miles of Russian-held Crimea, apparently without significant concerns regarding interdiction by the once-dominant Black Sea Fleet.
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SOURCE
https://maritime-executive.com/article/ukrainian-special-forces-retake-russian-held-offshore-rigs