On July 3, 2024, during a press conference at Ukrinform, the details of a long special operation “Rybalka” (“Fisherman”) by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, conducted in cooperation with the “Freedom of Russia” Legion and the “I Want to Live” project, were first disclosed.

This is about the damage to the russian aggressor state’s missile warship “sierpukhov” and the defection of a current serviceman of the russian baltic fleet to Ukraine.

“In early April of this year, there was information about an incident, smoke at the small missile ship “sierpukhov”, which is part of the russian baltic fleet and is based in the city of baltiisk. Now we can say that it was a part of “Rybalka” operation, which lasted from 2023,” Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said.

Since 2023, a russian sailor with the call sign “Goga” has secretly joined the “Freedom of Russia” Legion to resist putin’s criminal regime.

For a long time, at the risk of his own life, this russian man, who had served in the navy for 11 years and had access to state secrets of russia, was passing important data to the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine.

When staying on the warship and continuing to work in the interests of resistance to the kremlin became threatening, active actions were planned and implemented inside the “sierpukhov”.

As a result of the sabotage, the aggressor’s missile warship was substantially destroyed from the inside and its communications and automation equipment was completely destroyed.

The “sierpukhov” Project 21631 “Buyan-M” was launched in 2015 and is one of the most modern missile vessels in the aggressor’s fleet, capable of using “kalibr” and “onyx” missiles.

As a result of the damage, the russian warship requires lengthy and costly repairs. Its withdrawal from combat duty is an extremely important factor for the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine.

After the active phase of the “Rybalka” special operation, the sailor was taken out of russian territory by the specialists of the "I Want to Live" project. He was carrying classified materials, including information about the state of russia’s military-industrial complex.

The obtained documents are already helping to weaken the aggressor state.

“This is our first operation in the Baltic Fleet. For the enemy, it was a shock and a big surprise. After this operation, there were reshuffles, investigations, and punishments in the Baltic Fleet. It is clear that some heads dropped,” Andrii Yusov said.

Now the russian is in Ukraine and continues to fight as a member of the “Freedom of Russia” Legion.

This is to remind that russian servicemen can surrender and safely leave the battlefield through the official bot of the “I Want to Live” project: t.me/spasisebyabot