KYIV / VYBORG, —March 25, 2026 : Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a long-range drone strike on the Vyborg Shipyard in Russia’s Leningrad region during the night of March 24–25, damaging the Project 23550 Arctic patrol icebreaker Purga, a vessel under construction for the Border Service of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the operation, stating that the target was a dual-role ice-class patrol ship designed to function both as a military platform and a civilian icebreaker. The strike highlights the expanding operational reach of Ukrainian unmanned systems, as Vyborg is located close to St. Petersburg, nearly 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine’s northern border.
Damage Assessment and Incident Details
Post-strike imagery and footage circulating on social media indicate that the Purga sustained visible structural damage and developed a significant list to its port side while moored at the shipyard. Reports suggest a possible hull breach. As the vessel tilted, it reportedly collided with nearby infrastructure, including the superstructure of an adjacent Project 22011 oceanographic research vessel Vice-Admiral Burilichev, which was berthed nearby.
Local accounts also indicated a fire at the shipyard, with a dry cargo vessel on the premises reportedly catching fire. In addition, Russian officials confirmed damage to a residential building in Vyborg, though no casualties were reported.
At the time of the strike, the Purga was in the final stages of construction at the Vyborg Shipbuilding Plant. The vessel’s keel was laid in July 2020, and it was launched on October 7, 2022. It was scheduled for transfer to Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg for final outfitting prior to delivery to the FSB, with an original completion timeline of 2024 that had already experienced delays.
Vessel Design, Capabilities, and Program Context
The Project 23550 class—also referred to as the Ivan Papanin-class and, in its FSB configuration, associated with the “Yermak” derivative design—is a series of multi-role Arctic patrol ships intended to strengthen Russia’s presence along the Northern Sea Route.
The Purga is one of two ships of this type being built at the Vyborg Shipyard for the FSB Border Guard, alongside the Dzerzhinsky. Overall, four Project 23550 vessels have been ordered for FSB service, expanding on a design originally developed for the Russian Navy.
Key specifications and capabilities of the class include a full-load displacement of approximately 8,500 tonnes and a length of about 114 meters. The ships are rated to RS Arc7 ice-class standards, allowing operations in Arctic conditions and the ability to break through ice up to 1.7 meters thick.
The vessels are equipped with a 76.2 mm AK-176MA naval gun, two AK-306M close-in weapon systems, heavy machine guns, and man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). They are also designed to support containerized Kalibr-K cruise missile systems. Aviation facilities include a helipad and hangar for Ka-27 helicopters, along with the capability to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Raptor-class high-speed patrol boats.
Russia currently faces a limited inventory of modern ice-class patrol ships, making the Project 23550 program a component of its Arctic maritime strategy. Damage to the Purga is expected to further affect delivery timelines.
Wider Drone Campaign in Leningrad Region
The strike on the Vyborg Shipyard formed part of a broader Ukrainian drone campaign targeting multiple sites in the Leningrad region during the same night.
Ukrainian forces also struck the Novatek-operated gas processing and transshipment complex at the Ust-Luga port on the Baltic Sea. The facility, a key hub for Russian energy exports, sustained a fire that damaged storage tanks and oil-loading infrastructure used for petroleum shipments.
Russian authorities reported intercepting a large number of drones during the attacks. Leningrad Region Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko stated that 56 drones were intercepted locally. Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that a total of 389 Ukrainian drones were shot down across 13 regions, including the Leningrad region, Moscow, and Crimea.
Industrial and Strategic Implications
The Vyborg Shipyard, part of Russia’s United Shipbuilding Corporation, specializes in the construction of ice-class vessels and offshore platforms. The targeting of a nearly completed Arctic patrol ship underscores a continued Ukrainian focus on high-value military-industrial assets.
The operation aligns with Kyiv’s broader strategy of striking defense infrastructure and energy facilities deep within Russian territory to disrupt logistical, industrial, and financial support systems associated with Russia’s military operations.
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