Ukraine's strike on Russian missile ship brings war within sight of Kotka

Ukraine has struck a Russian missile ship near Suursaari island in the Gulf of Finland, just 40 kilometers from the Finnish city of Kotka, according to Ukrainian security services. The attack marks a new escalation in the war, bringing it within close proximity of Finland and NATO territory. The strike occurred early Wednesday morning following intense drone activity over the Gulf of Finland. A Ukrainian drone hit the Buyan-M-class corvette Naro-Fominsk at 5:30 AM, with both Finland and Estonia detecting the explosion. The vessel, built in 2022, reportedly managed to return to St. Petersburg, though its damage extent remains unclear. The attack follows a Ukrainian strike on the Ust-Luga oil port and comes amid heightened tensions in the Baltic region. Finnish and Estonian defenses have increased readiness, with drones also spotted in their airspace overnight. Ukraine aims to disrupt Russian oil revenues and demonstrate that Russian warships are no longer safe in the Gulf of Finland.