Ukraine Asserts Missile Strike on Russian Naval Base in Crimea Resulted in 34 Fatalities, Including Admiral

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Ukraine announced on Monday that a missile attack targeting the Russian Navy’s headquarters in Crimea resulted in the death of 34 officers, including Admiral Viktor Sokolov, the fleet commander. The assertion, however, was not backed by tangible evidence.

The information was disclosed via Telegram by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, stating that the missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet’s central building in Sevastopol also left 105 individuals injured. These claims stand in stark contrast to Russia’s version of events and could not be independently corroborated.

Initial reports from Russia’s military indicated that one serviceman was missing following the attack, but Moscow has not released additional information on the incident.

The Crimean Peninsula, unlawfully annexed by Russia in 2014 from Ukraine, has been a recurrent point of contention. Since Russia initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, Crimea has served as a pivotal support base for the ongoing military campaign.

Related Context

Ukraine has lately intensified its focus on naval targets in Crimea. This forms part of its counteroffensive that has been slowly progressing in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, as analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War. The missile attack on Friday was followed by another round of strikes on Saturday.

Newly reported death and injury statistics mark a significant escalation from what Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s intelligence chief, conveyed to Voice of America just days earlier. He had stated that a minimum of nine deaths and 16 injuries had occurred, leaving the building in a state of ruin. He also indicated that Russian General Alexander Romanchuk was in critical condition.

Although the Special Operations Forces did not explicitly name Admiral Sokolov in their statement, Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s internal affairs minister, identified him through a social media post.

Further details about the Friday attack were shared by Ukraine’s military. They conducted 12 targeted strikes on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, focusing on zones where military personnel and assets were amassed. The strikes were successful in hitting two anti-aircraft missile systems and four Russian artillery units.

Collateral Damage

As Ukraine announced these numbers, reports emerged of Russian aerial and missile strikes causing damage in Odesa, affecting a grain silo and an uninhabited hotel. In addition, six Ukrainian civilians were killed and 13 injured due to Russian strikes in different parts of the country.

Ukraine’s air defense systems managed to intercept all Russian drones launched overnight; however, one of 12 Kalibr missiles and two P-800 Oniks cruise missiles apparently penetrated the defenses.

Russian Counterclaims

The Russian Defense Ministry alleged that its long-range missiles and drones targeted facilities used by foreign mercenaries and trained insurgents, although it failed to substantiate these claims. It also announced having shot down several Ukrainian drones.

International Perspective

The ongoing military operations are occurring amidst findings by U.N.-backed human rights experts, who have unearthed new instances of war crimes committed predominantly by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the receipt of the first batch of Abrams tanks from the United States.

The situation remains fluid and multi-dimensional, involving various international actors and interests.

This report was contributed to by Big Big News journalists Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Brian Melley in London.

For extended coverage of the war in Ukraine, please visit: Big Big News Website

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More about Ukraine Missile Strike on Russian Naval Base in Crimea

• Ukraine’s Official Statement on Missile Strike
• Russia’s Military Response to Ukraine’s Claims
• U.N. Report on Human Rights Violations in Ukraine-Russia Conflict
• Voice of America Interview with Ukraine’s Intelligence Chief
• Institute for the Study of War Analysis on Ukraine’s Military Actions
• International Response to Ukraine-Russia Conflict
• U.S. Announcement on Abrams Tanks Sent to Ukraine