The Digester

Admiral Essen left unable to fire Kalibr missiles after Novorossiysk strike, Ukrainska Pravda sources say

Mar 5th 2026

Ukrainska Pravda reports that SSU and other Ukrainian forces struck the Russian frigate Admiral Essen in the Port of Novorossiysk on 1-2 March, damaging sensors and systems and leaving the ship unable to launch Kalibr missiles according to Security Service of Ukraine sources.

  • Security Service of Ukraine sources told Ukrainska Pravda that SSU units together with Ukrainian defence forces struck the frigate Admiral Essen on the night of 1-2 March.
  • The strike hit the ship's central superstructure and sparked a deck fire that burned for about 18 hours, sources said.
  • The TK-25 electronic warfare system and ZR-90 Orekh target illumination radars were damaged and the Fregat-M2M surveillance radar was likely impaired, according to the report.
  • Grenade launchers used to deploy thermal decoys and radio-signal scatterers detonated on board, further degrading the ship's systems, sources said.
  • Ukrainska Pravda sources say the damage significantly limits the frigate's ability to launch its eight Kalibr cruise missiles and currently prevents strikes on Ukrainian territory.
  • The wider Novorossiysk attack on 1-2 March also hit an oil terminal, an S-300PMU-2 guidance radar, a Pantsir-S2 system, and several Russian ships, according to Ukrainian sources.

Sources

pravda.com.ua