Ukrainian naval boats tried to attack Russian Black Sea Fleet ships near Snake Island on Friday evening - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. Feb 26 (Interfax) - Sixteen boats of the Ukrainian Navy attempted to attack Russian Black Sea Fleet ships by employing a swarm tactic near Snake Island in the Black Sea on Friday evening, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"On the evening of February 25, during the evacuation from Snake Island of 82 Ukrainian service members who voluntarily laid down their arms, 16 Ukrainian Navy boats attempted to attack Black Sea Fleet ships using a swarm tactic," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

Some of the attacking Ukrainian naval boats acted under protection of civilian ships, he said.

"The primary goal of this attack was to take revenge on the Ukrainian service members who laid down their arms and accuse the Russian Army of killing captives. Six Ukrainian Navy boats were destroyed in a naval engagement," Konashenkov said.

None of the 82 Ukrainian service members from Snake Island was harmed, it said.