Ukraine Launches Missile Attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Headquarters in Sevastopol

On Friday, Ukraine launched a missile attack on the main headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, the largest city in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. According to Russian state media, air defense systems shot down 10 missiles headed for Crimea, but the Black Sea Fleet headquarters was hit by French-made Storm Shadow missiles.

Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said in a post on the Telegram messaging app that firefighters were battling a blaze at the fleet headquarters, and more emergency forces were being brought in. He also warned Sevastopol residents that another attack was possible and urged them not to leave buildings or go to the city center.

Razvozhayev said that, according to preliminary information, the civilian infrastructure around the fleet headquarters was not damaged. However, there is no information about casualties at this time.

The Tass news agency reported that a stream of ambulances were arriving at the fleet’s headquarters and shrapnel was scattered hundreds of meters (yards) around.

The missile attack is the latest in a series of escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The two countries have been in conflict since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. The international community has condemned Russia’s actions and imposed sanctions on the country.