Ukrainian drone strikes Russian icebreaker Purga at Vyborg Shipyard

Photo: Defense Forces of Ukraine

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Defense Forces reports that during a joint operation by the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Leningrad Region on the night of March 25, the Purga, a Russian Project 23550 military icebreaker, was hit at the Vyborg Shipyard.

The Barents Observer reports that the Purga, which is under construction for Russia’s FSB Coast Guard, was struck when a large number of Ukrainian drones targeted sites in and around St. Petersburg, including the icebreaker and the Ust-Luga oil terminal.

The Barents Observer report notes that Project 23550 vessels are designed for deep Arctic patrol missions. They are capable of breaking ice up to 1.7 meters thick (Arc7), functioning as tugboats, conducting search-and-rescue operations, and transporting cargo to remote military locations.

The report adds that the ships are armed with an 76 mm AK-176MA naval gun, feature a helipad and hangar for Ka-27 helicopters, and can deploy UAVs and high-speed boats. They also have rear platforms for container-based Kalibr-K cruise missiles.