Russia says Ukraine attacked Black Sea Fleet headquarters with missiles

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Crimea in recent days. The latest occurred this Friday against the most strategic objective of the peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014: the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet, in the port city of Sevastopol. According to the local governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, "the enemies launched a missile attack."

It was the third attack to hit the peninsula or its vicinity this Friday morning. According to Razvozháyev on the Telegram application, a report on possible victims "is being prepared", and he announced that "fragments (of the attack) fell near the Lunacharsky Theater."

"Go to the shelters"

"We ask you, please, not to go to the city center. Do not leave the buildings. Everyone who is near the fleet headquarters, when the sirens sound, should go to the shelters," added the political leader. from the city.

Hours before the governor's statement, Russia claimed to have intercepted another missile and two Ukrainian drones off the western coast of Crimea. "At approximately 10:30 Moscow time, an attempt (...) by Kyiv to carry out a terrorist attack with guided missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped," the Ministry reported. Russian Defense Ministry on its Telegram channel.

This was the second Ukrainian attack against the peninsula on Friday morning, since Defense had already reported at 6:00 a.m. the downing of two drones launched by Kyiv over the Black Sea, near the southeastern coast of Crimea, and in the Tuapse region, in Krasnodar Krai, southern Russia.

Sevastopol authorities reported that maritime traffic had been stopped. Traffic was also suspended on the Crimean Bridge, which links this Black Sea peninsula with mainland Russia.

Razvozhayev urged Sevastopol residents not to post photos and videos from the scene of the emergency on social media. He also warned that it is possible to suffer more attacks.

In fact, an aide to the governor claimed that Russian anti-aircraft defenses managed to shoot down a missile near the historic city of Bakhchisarai, former capital of the Crimean Khanate.