Ukraine destroys Russian corvette in Karelia in bold special forces strike

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces carried out a daring attack on one of Russia's newest warships in Karelia, hundreds of kilometres from the front line. Russian sailors were forced to jump into the water from the burning vessel. The operation took place on October 4, 2025, but footage was only released now.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) struck one of Russia's newest warships in Karelia, far behind the front lines, forcing Russian sailors to abandon the burning vessel by jumping overboard. The Ukrainian military has now released video footage of the operation, though the strike itself took place on October 4, 2025.

Strike Hundreds of Kilometres Behind Front

The attack was remarkable for its reach — the Russian corvette was targeted in Karelia, hundreds of kilometres from the active front line. The precision of the operation underlines Ukraine's growing capability to project force deep into Russian-controlled territory, striking assets previously considered safely out of range.

The footage released by Ukraine's SOF shows the warship engulfed in flames, with sailors visible jumping into the water to escape. The vessel was described as one of Russia's newer warships, making its destruction a significant blow both materially and symbolically.

Delayed Disclosure of the Operation

The decision to delay publication of the video for weeks after the strike is consistent with Ukrainian military practice of withholding operational details until the intelligence value of secrecy has diminished. Such delays allow Ukrainian forces to protect sources, methods, and personnel involved in sensitive operations before broader disclosure.