The Ukrainian military has officially confirmed carrying out a missile attack on the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea. They described the attack as a success. This development represents an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Kyiv and Moscow over the annexed region.
The Department of Strategic Communications of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Telegram that the Defense Forces of Ukraine had carried out the attack on the Russian naval base around 12:00 on September 22. The department said that the strike was part of a “comprehensive operation to liberate the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas from the Russian occupation forces.”
The department did not provide any details on the type or number of missiles used, or the extent of the damage inflicted on the Russian base. However, it claimed that the attack had “caused significant losses to the enemy and disrupted its combat readiness.”
The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the Ukrainian statement, but earlier reported that several explosions had occurred at a military warehouse near Sevastopol, causing no casualties or damage. The ministry said that the blasts were caused by “a fire in a storage area for engineering ammunition” and that “all measures are being taken to eliminate the consequences of the emergency.”
The Ukrainian attack comes amid rising tensions between Kyiv and Moscow over Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 following a controversial referendum that was not recognized by most of the international community. Since then, Ukraine has been fighting a pro-Russian separatist insurgency in its eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are collectively known as Donbas.
In recent weeks, Ukraine has stepped up its strikes against Russian military bases and other installations in Crimea, using drones, artillery, and rockets. Kyiv says that these attacks are in response to Russia’s “aggressive actions” and “provocations” in the region, including its massive military buildup near the border with Ukraine earlier this year.
Ukraine has also accused Russia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity by opening a railway bridge across the Kerch Strait, which connects Crimea to mainland Russia, and by conducting naval exercises in the Black Sea. Ukraine considers Crimea as part of its territory and claims that any movement of Russian troops or equipment there is illegal.
The United States and its allies have expressed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and have urged Russia to de-escalate the situation and engage in dialogue with Kyiv. They have also imposed sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Crimea and its role in the Donbas conflict.
However, Russia has dismissed these calls and sanctions as interference in its internal affairs, and has accused the West of fueling the conflict by providing military aid and training to Ukraine. Russia has also warned that it will defend its interests and security in the region, and that any further escalation by Ukraine could have “grave consequences” for peace and stability in Europe.
(With inputs from agencies)
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