Title: Ukrainian Attack on Russian Naval Headquarters in Crimea Causes Damage and Fire
Subtitle: Ukrainian forces demonstrate growing capacity to strike deep into Russian-held territory
Date: October 20, 2023
In a pre-dawn attack on Wednesday, Ukrainian forces targeted the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, causing significant damage to two ships and igniting a massive blaze at a crucial naval shipyard. This attack, the largest on the Russian naval headquarters in Sevastopol since the invasion of Ukraine 19 months ago, highlights Ukraine’s increasing capability to hit deep into Russian-held territory.
According to both Russian and Ukrainian officials, the Ukrainian attack involved the firing of 10 cruise missiles at the facility in Sevastopol, along with the targeting of a Russian warship on the Black Sea using three maritime drones. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that seven cruise missiles were shot down by air defense systems, while the patrol ship Vasily Bykov destroyed the unmanned drones.
The Russian military initially remained silent about the attack until local residents shared images of explosions and raging fires at the shipyard on social media. Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Russian-backed governor of Crimea, eventually acknowledged the incident, sharing a photograph showing damage sustained by a large landing ship. Reports suggest that at least 24 people were injured at the Sevmorzavod shipyard.
The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, indicated that an airstrike was likely involved, expressing gratitude to the pilots for their successful combat work. However, details about the weapons used by Ukraine in the assault remain undisclosed.
Although the Russian navy has not confirmed the extent of the damage, military bloggers and the Russian news outlet Baza reported that the attack damaged an improved Kilo-class attack submarine, the Rostov-on-Don, and a Ropucha-class landing ship, the Minsk. These reports have not been independently verified, but Russian officials acknowledged that two ships in dry dock were damaged.
The attack comes just days after Ukraine announced the retaking of several oil and gas drilling platforms on the Black Sea coast, disrupting Russia’s ability to project power in the region. In a related incident, the Ukrainian military claimed to have shot down 32 Iranian-made attack drones that targeted port and grain infrastructure in the Odesa region.
The conflict in the Black Sea has intensified since Russia’s withdrawal from a grain export agreement in July, leading to escalated attacks on Ukrainian ports, grain facilities, and civilian infrastructure. Controlling the flow of weapons and supplies from Russia through Crimea is crucial for Ukraine as its ground forces continue to battle Russian defensive lines.
The Kremlin’s acknowledgment of the Ukrainian attack, albeit delayed, emphasizes the significance of the incident. As both sides continue to escalate tensions and engage in military confrontations, the situation in the Black Sea remains precarious, with the potential to further destabilize the region.
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