British missiles and drones ‘destroyed’ a THIRD of Putin’s feared Black Sea Fleet, says Shapps after Zelensky talks

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BRITISH missiles and drones helped Ukraine ‘destroy’ almost a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Grant Shapps revealed today (Thursday).

The Minister of Defense called on allies to increase military aid Ukraine while promising to give Kiev 10,000 drones – including devastating unmanned maritime vessels – to fire back Russian invaders.

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, Ukraine last SeptemberCredit: PA

A Ukrainian force fires a weapon at a shooting range near Kharkiv, UkraineCredit: EPA

Smoke rises from the Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship Sergey Kotov after it was damaged by Ukrainian naval dronesCredit: Reuters

Speaking in Kiev, where he met Ukraine President ZelenskyShapps said: “Ukrainian forces are using Britain-donated weapons to unprecedented effect to destroy almost 30 percent of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.”

It comes days after Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence sank the Sergei Kotov corvette with a swarm of naval drones on Tuesday.

It brought to at least 23 the number of Russian warships sunk, destroyed or severely damaged since Putin launched his all-out invasion.

Britain has not revealed whether it supports the Magura V5 naval drone missions, but the devastating Storm Shadow cruise missiles hit a Kilo-class submarine, a Roucha-class landing ship and the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet last year in Sevastopol.

On Wednesday Russia claimed his fighter jets had intercepted a plane RAF The Rivet Joint spy plane as it floated information over the Black Sea.

Shapps said Britain would send a further 10,000 lethal drones worth £125 million straight from Britain’s factory floors to the front line. It brings UK spending on drones for Ukraine to £325 million.

The Ministry of Defense said more than £100 million of that money was spent on “maritime capabilities”.

It stressed: “Ukraine will continue to turn the tide in the Black Sea.”

Shapps said Britain is “stepping up our commitment to arming Ukraine” after the Prime Minister pledged to spend £2.5 billion on military aid in the next financial year.

In a message to allies including America, which is tied to a major military aid package, he said: “I encourage international partners to join Britain in this effort.”

GoPro footage from Russian sailors shows terror unfolding as Ukrainian drones sink warship Caesar Kunikov

Dramatic images were leaked this week by a Russian Telegram channel showed a fierce battle as terror-stricken Russian sailors tried to stave off a brutal Ukrainian kamikaze drone attack.

A GoPro video was taken on board the doomed £170 million Caesar Kunikov landing ship that exploded in a fireball and sank as a Valentine’s gift for Putin.

Saw the extraordinary images Russian Sailors desperately try to save the 110 meter long warship, which was lurking nearby annexed Crimea – of the attack by pumping the water with lead.

Then there was absolute chaos on deck Putin’s military forces saw the drones flying in their direction Black Sea and had difficulty repelling the attack.

But the swarm of jet ski-powered USVs was completely undeterred in their attack and the video reached a climax when an explosion sank and destroyed the colossal vessel.

The video surfaced just two days after yet another Russian warship, the modern patrol ship Sergey Kotov, was sunk off Crimea in a separate drone strike at sea by Kiev.

The ship, which had only been in service since 2022, was blown to pieces during an early morning strike – and it was all caught on video and released with a grin by Ukraine.

Due to the successful Ukrainian attack, Putin lost his dominance in the western part of the Black Sea.