Image source: topwar.ru
The Black Sea Fleet officially confirmed the loss in 2022 of the large landing ship "Saratov", struck in the port of Berdyansk during unloading. This was stated by the commander of the Crimean naval base of the Black Sea Fleet Felix Menkov.
Today in Sevastopol there was an opening of a memorial plaque to the sailors who died during the special operation in Ukraine. Speaking at the ceremony, Menkov confirmed the loss of the Saratov BDK in March 2022 during the fighting in Berdyansk. According to him, the open memorial plaque will be a reminder to the next generations about the feat of Sevastopol sailors.
- said the rear Admiral.
Recall that the Saratov BDK was hit by a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile at the berth in the port of Berdyansk in March last year. A fire broke out on board the ship and in order to prevent the detonation of the ammunition that the Saratov was carrying, it was decided to flood it right at the pier, which was done. The ship was brought to the surface on July 1, after which they wanted to send it to Kerch for repair, but decided to dispose of it on the spot due to the damage received.
The large landing ship Saratov became the first ship in the BDK series of Project 1171, built in Kaliningrad at the Yantar shipyard. He served in the Navy of the Soviet Union and then Russia for 56 years, joining the Black Sea Fleet in 1966 and was withdrawn from it in 2022 due to the destruction of a Ukrainian missile.