In a significant escalation of hostilities, a Ukrainian missile attack struck the headquarters of Moscow’s Black Sea fleet in Crimea, resulting in at least one fatality and igniting a fire in the region. This attack marks the latest assault by Kyiv on the peninsula and underscores the intensifying conflict as Ukraine remains resolute in its quest to reclaim the territory annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor of Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city, confirmed the missile strike via social media, stating, “The headquarters of the fleet have been hit in an enemy missile attack.” He also reported that missile fragments had fallen near a local theater and urged residents to avoid the affected area.
In a subsequent post, Razvozhayev issued a warning of a possible follow-up aerial attack, urging the city’s more than 500,000 residents to remain indoors. He emphasized the importance of seeking shelter promptly in the event of a siren sounding and assured that rescue workers were already at the scene, actively combating the fire.
Russia’s defense ministry confirmed that “one serviceman was killed” in the attack, noting that their air defense systems successfully intercepted and shot down five missiles during the incident.
Tensions in and around the Black Sea have been steadily rising, particularly after Moscow’s withdrawal from an agreement that permitted safe passage for civilian cargo ships from three Ukrainian ports. Ukraine has been urging its allies to provide long-range missiles to its armed forces, a move intended to target deeper into Russia-controlled territories.
While concerns have lingered over the potential for Ukraine to target Russian territory and escalate the conflict, both France and the United Kingdom have supplied Kyiv’s forces with such weapons. As part of its recent barrage on Crimea, Ukraine announced that it had targeted a military airfield near the town of Saky, where numerous warplanes and Pantsir missile defense systems were reportedly stationed. Ukraine deployed a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles, overwhelming Russian air defenses before launching Neptune cruise missiles.
Moreover, Ukraine has repeatedly targeted and damaged the sole bridge connecting the peninsula to the Russian mainland, disrupting both civilian and military transport. Russian officials announced a temporary halt to traffic across the bridge following the recent missile strike.
Civilian maritime traffic in Sevastopol was also halted, according to authorities installed by Russia, though details regarding this development were not disclosed. Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its forces successfully intercepted one guided missile and two drones that had been targeting the Crimean peninsula, further exacerbating the ongoing conflict in the region.
Sources By Agencies
