Russia
says Ukraine has launched 10 missiles and three unmanned boats in an attack on
the home of its Black Sea fleet in Crimea.
The attack caused a large
fire at a Sevastopol shipyard which left 24 people injured, Russia said.
Moscow-installed governor
Mikhail Razvozhayev claimed most of the weapons were intercepted.
Russia said two of its
ships were damaged as a result of hits by cruise missiles.
A photo shared by Mr. Razvozhayev on Telegram shows flames engulfing what appears to be a vessel at a
port as he stands speaking into his phone.
It is thought to be in an
area where ships were undergoing repairs. Ukrainian military intelligence
sources say a large Russian amphibious landing ship and a submarine - both
thought to be in dry dock - were damaged. If both were hit that would make this
one of Ukraine's most significant attacks so far on the Black Sea fleet.
Images circulating on
social media, which the BBC has yet to verify, show several large explosions in
the area.
The fact that some missiles
got through Russia's air defenses and appear to have done substantial damage
will be of real concern in Moscow.
Seven of the missiles were
downed and all three unmanned boats were destroyed, the country's defense
ministry claimed. Ukraine has not yet commented on the Crimea attack.
Russia illegally annexed
Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and this attack shows the tussle for control of the
waters. Ukraine has consistently maintained its ultimate goal is to retake the
peninsula.
Ukraine has targeted
Sevastopol and the Black Sea fleet before but questions remain about which
weapons were used in this attack. Western-supplied long-range missiles have
been suggested but also Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles could have been used.
Neptune missiles were famously used to sink the
Moskva - the flagship of the Black Sea fleet.
Russia illegally annexed
Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and this attack shows the tussle for control of the
waters. Ukraine has consistently maintained its ultimate goal is to retake the
peninsula.
Ukraine has targeted
Sevastopol and the Black Sea fleet before but questions remain about which
weapons were used in this attack. Western-supplied long-range missiles have
been suggested but also Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles could have been used.
Neptune missiles were famously used to sink the
Moskva - the flagship of the Black Sea fleet.
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