Ukraine launches attacks on Russia’s Black Sea fleet base in Crimea
- 22 September, 17:06
The attack was mounted with the use of "Storm Shadow" missiles and hit the navy headquarters in Sevastopol, the largest city in the Russia-annexed Crimea Peninsula. The missiles were launched from Su-24 bombers.
The Russian Defence Ministry said one serviceman was missing after the attack, while the Russia-installed governor of Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhayev, urged local residents to stay away from the city center where the Russian headquarters is located.
Russian air forces downed another missile on Friday near the Crimean town of Bakhchysarai, according to local authorities.
Ukraine confirmed the reports on the “successful” missile attack on Russian Black Sea fleet headquarters.
Secretary of Ukraine’s security council Oleksiy Danilov wrote in X, previously known as Twitter, shortly after the attack that “the Russian Black Sea fleet will be sliced up like a salami” and that “There are two options for the future of Russia’s Black Sea fleet: voluntary or forced self neutralisation.”
He added that “the best and safest way to preserve the integrity of the property-economic complex of the city of Sevastopol and the surrounding areas is voluntary shipwreck.”
It should be noted that "Storm Shadow" missiles used in Sevastopol attacks have been provided to Ukraine as part of a military aid from the United Kingdom.
Ukraine launched counter-offensive operation against Russia in east of the country in June. Early in September, Ukrainian forces broke through the Russian defence line southern Zaporizhzhia region following mine clearance operation.
