The strike on the Russian landing ship shows Russia "cannot use the western part of the Black Sea safely", military analyst Michael Clarke has said.
The Caesar Kunikov is the fourth of nine ships Russia's Black Sea fleet has lost.
"It's a good blow for the Ukrainians and it's poor for the Russians because it emphasises the fact that they can't use the western part of the Black Sea safely," he said.
"The Ukrainians have got the sense now that the western part of the sea more or less belongs to them which is very important for keeping their trade routes open into the Mediterranean."
But, Clarke says, "this is not going to win them the war".
He added: "It increases their strategic leverage.
"While they are doing well in the Black Sea they are doing less well on land because the Russians are pushing back slowly.
"Ukraine is struggling to hold the land it had two months ago."
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-news-putin-zelenskyy-latest-live-updates-12541713
the latter is completely undeniable ......BUT ......they key word is ......S-L-O-W-L-Y
that percentage is still 18% and going to be a while before it ticks over even to 19%
events in the US - funding package - later the election - are critical for Ukraine but even with no US support russai moves at a snails pace
