Ukraine Says Russian Naval Captain Took £1,220 Bribe, Exposing Classified Details of Putin’s New Warship

Ukraine claims they bribed a Russian military captain for the precise position of the Russian president’s newest battleship before launching a surprise attack. The astounding revelation emerged on Thursday and outlines how Ukrainian rockets destroyed a former spy’s £88 million vessel.

The most advanced vessel in the Kremlin’s Black Sea Fleet, the Askold, was the target of three strikes last weekend, a video clip showed. It is said that the little missile ship is irreparably destroyed.

Per Ukrainian Telegram channels, a Russian captain allegedly sent information to Kyiv using a social media messenger on the location of the ship in a shipyard in Kerch, east of the annexed Crimea. Alexander Ermolenko, 39, who was in charge of the guided missile corvette Ingushetia 630 belonging to the Buyan-M class, was identified as the captain.

It is said that he haggled to raise the cost from $1,000 to $1,500. He hasn’t addressed the accusation, though, nor have the Russian authorities. Regarding the allegation that Ermolenko posted the coordinates of the Zaliv shipyard, commonly referred to as Butoma, on social media, neither party has responded.

Ermolenko, who was born in Sevastopol, is classified by Ukraine as a “war criminal.” There are rumours that during the conflict, his ship was utilized to launch potent Kalibr missiles at locations in Ukraine.

Telegram groups Crimean Wind and Russian Soldiers were unable to clarify how the captain of the Black Sea Fleet got into contact with Ukrainian operatives.

Text exchanges show that he said he would share the information if they’d give 500 more.

The text message continued; either it got done this way, or they ignored it.

He tells his Ukrainian handler, presumably referring to the 197-foot-long Askold, to avoid waiting too long as they may relocate it.

It’s unclear at this time whether Russia is looking into Ermolenko.

He and his 39-year-old wife Viktoria, originally from the Kharkiv province of Ukraine, are parents to two children.

The Southern Operational Command of Ukraine’s spokesperson, Natalia Humeniuk, stated that the Askold could not embark on combat duty very soon.

She remarked that the blow was powerful.

The Askold was part of the Project 22800 Karakurt war vessel fleet.

Today, Captain Ermolenko was identified as the bribed accused in widespread use of the claims by the Ukrainian media.

References: The Sun

Ukraine Says Russian Naval Captain Took £1,220 Bribe, Exposing Classified Details of Putin’s New Warship appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News