Putin accidentally CONFIRMS 34 sailors killed in warship destroyed by Brit-supplied Storm Shadow blitz

RUSSIA has accidentally confirmed 34 sailors were killed in a British-supplied Storm Shadow missile blitz that sank a warship.

A humiliated Putin tried to cover up the true death toll after the strike by Ukraine last Boxing Day left him red-faced.

The massive explosion was made possibly by a £2.5million British-supplied missleEast2West

It has taken 11 months for the full 34 men who lost their lives to be properly acknowledgedEast2West

East2West

The destruction of the huge 369ft warship was thought to have claimed two lives, but the number is now known to be much higher[/caption]

But now it has taken nearly 11 months for the names of the 34 dead to come to light.

The damming truth was exposed by the mother of another sailor, whose death was covered up by the state.

The grieving parent put up a post in memory of her son, Vsevolod Kurbatov.

A loving tribute read: “I’m proud of you, son. It’s an honour to be your mum.”

Vsevolod was killed in the attack the day after his 23rd birthday.

The real number of those lost has undermined the leader’s usual stoicism in the face of foreign aggression.

On Boxing Day 2023, Ukraine launched a missile strike on Russia, using British-supplied missiles.

At first, only two memorial plaques were made naming the fallen sailors, whilst their massive 369ft Novocherkassk landing ship also destroyed in the strike.

Pictures show the warship exploding in the strike.

It was taken down by a £2.5million Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile.

This British contribution is a part of the continued effort to supply Ukraine in its battle with Russia..

In September, Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted that the UK will not be “bullied” out of supplying Ukraine.

It is understood that the obliterated Russian warship was loaded with war supplies at the time of its destruction.

Two of those killed were Alexander Kolotvinov, 24, and Kirill Korf, 20.

Among the dead were Vlad Yaremenko, 19, the youngest lost sailor, and Dmitry Bryakin, 23.

UKRANIAN BRIDGE PLOT

In April, The Sun reported that Ukrainian officials planned to blow up a vital bridge by mid-July.

The Kerch Bridge has long been a symbol of Russia‘s occupation, and destroying it would be a vital win in the conflict.

The target was Russia‘s only land bridge to Crimea, which Putin hailed as a “miracle” upon its completion.

A 12 mile structure, getting rid of it would cut off a major Russian supply route and help win back the battle in the Black Sea.

Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the Centre for Defence Concepts and Technology, believes it is entirely possible Ukraine could do it – but it needs the right weapons.

The “most actively defended bridge in the world” could be brought down with a “multi-pronged” big bang-style air and sea attack, he told The Sun.

Clark, an expert in naval operations and electronic warfare, predicted Storm Shadow missiles would be used to pummel its structure, while unmanned explosive boats detonate at its base.

The bridge has long been one of Ukraine‘s highest military targets.

In October 2022, a truck bomb blasted a gaping hole in the bridge’s centre, setting fire to the railway and sinking parts of the road into the water.

In September 2024, Al Jazeera reported on the continued desire to decimate Kerch, suggesting Ukraine missed their July target.

East2West

The warship that was downed in the Ukrainian strike was loaded with Russian military equipment at the time[/caption]

Vlad Yaremenko was only 19 years old when he was killed in the December 26 strikeEast2West

Kirill Korf was only a year older than Vlad at the time of his death last yearEast2West