At least one Ukrainian missile struck the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea navy in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Friday. Russian officials also reported a major cyberattack, which interrupted internet services on the peninsula. Russia’s defence ministry announced that one serviceman was missing, revising its earlier statement that the man had been killed. The ministry stated that air defences had downed a total of five missiles.
The Ukrainian military confirmed that it had attacked the Russian Black Sea fleet’s headquarters, but provided few details. The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, reported that emergency services had brought a fire in the building under control. He mentioned that the pouring of water on sections of the building and dismantling damaged structures was in progress. Razvozhayev also noted that some nearby roads might remain closed during this work, and Sevastopol residents gathered in the streets, singing the Russian national anthem.
Razvozhayev previously stated that there were no civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure in his account of the missile strike posted on Telegram. Ukraine has intensified attacks in the Black Sea and Crimea as Ukrainian forces continue their counteroffensive to regain Russian-controlled territory. Ukrainian officials consider attacks on Russian military targets in Russian-held territory as legitimate. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak asserted that Crimea “will definitely be demilitarized and liberated,” but Moscow remains firm in its determination to hold onto the peninsula.
Russian authorities reported that air defences had intercepted another missile near the town of Bakhchysarai. In addition to the missile strikes, the peninsula also faced an “unprecedented cyberattack,” according to Oleg Kryuchkov, an aide to Crimea head Sergei Aksyonov. This cyberattack led to interruptions in internet service provided by various internet service providers on the peninsula.