Sevastopol: Ukrainian Missile Attack Hits Russian Warships, Aircraft, and Infrastructure

Russia claims its air defence systems intercepted over 10 missiles above the Crimean port of Sevastopol late on Saturday, according to a statement from Mikhail Razvozhayev, a Russian-appointed official.

Ukrainian sources however report that Russia’s amphibious landing ships Yamal and Azov were hit, along with the communications centre and infrastructure facilities of the Black Sea Fleet.

Some reports say Belbek military airfield at Sevastopol has also been struck, with three SU-27 aircraft damaged or destroyed.

More than 30 Russian military personnel have been reported killed, with more injured.

Following the missile attack, transportation services to and from the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, are also experiencing disruptions.

The transport administration of the region, overseen by Moscow, announced the suspension of sea and road connections between Russia’s mainland and Crimea for several hours.

The events unfolded in Sevastopol, a strategically significant port city located on the Crimean Peninsula, where tensions between Russia and Ukraine have persisted since the annexation in 2014.

The statement provided by Razvozhayev, while confirming the interception of missiles and the resulting impact on the city, did not specify the origin or motive behind the attack.

The suspension of transportation services underscores the immediate repercussions of such incidents on the daily lives of residents in the Russian occupied region’s connectivity with the mainland.

The disruption in transportation links adds to the challenges faced by the Crimean Peninsula, which has been subject to international sanctions and isolation following Russia’s annexation.

Efforts to restore normalcy following the incident are underway, with authorities working to assess the extent of the damage and ensure the safety of residents.

The incident serves as a reminder of the volatility in the region and the potential for escalation amid unresolved tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

As investigations into the incident continue, both Russia and Ukraine are likely to closely monitor developments and assess the implications for regional security.

The incident further complicates the already strained relationship between the two countries and underscores the need for diplomatic efforts to address underlying grievances and reduce tensions in the region.

Russia annexed the territory from Ukraine in 2014.

Ukraine regularly targets logistically important Crimea with missile and drone strikes.

In January, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kirill Budanov said that Ukrainian attacks against Crimea would intensify.

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