BREAKING: Strike on Russian Navy Headquarters in Crimea Leaves Dozens Dead and Wounded
September 23, 2023 at 2:20 a.m. EDT
In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukraine’s special forces claimed responsibility for a strike on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Crimea yesterday. Dozens were reportedly killed and wounded in the attack, including top officials who were attending a meeting at the headquarters. The strike was said to have been timed precisely to coincide with the leadership meeting.
A video, verified by Storyful and The Washington Post, showed smoke rising from the building in Sevastopol, the strategic target that was believed to be heavily defended. This attack is the latest in a series of strikes on Russian military infrastructure in Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleschuk posted on Telegram, “We promised that ‘there will be more.'”
Russian media reported that six people were injured in the strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters, but the exact number has not been confirmed by officials. Initially, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that one service member was killed, but later issued a statement saying he was missing. Ukraine’s armed forces described the attack as “successful.”
Russia has maintained control of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters since the fall of the Soviet Union, and it is believed that Russian military personnel stationed there participated in the invasion of Crimea in 2014. Oleksiy Danilov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, warned that the Black Sea Fleet has two options: “voluntary or forced self-neutralization.” He stated, “Otherwise, the Russian Black Sea fleet will be sliced up like a salami.”
In a separate development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Toronto on Friday, where he met with business leaders to discuss private sector investment in Ukraine. Zelensky’s surprise trip to Canada, his first to the country since Russia’s invasion, followed visits to New York and Washington earlier in the week.
Zelensky addressed the Canadian Parliament and expressed his gratitude for their support. He praised Canada for being on the “bright side of history” and mentioned the monument in Edmonton that commemorates the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide. Zelensky expressed hope for a future monument in Edmonton to commemorate Ukraine’s victory over Russia.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who also spoke at the Parliament, framed the war in Ukraine as a defense of global democracy. He emphasized Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and announced additional sanctions on 63 Russian individuals and entities.
The United States has announced plans to supply Ukraine with a version of ATACMS long-range missiles armed with cluster bomblets. This move is seen as a means for Ukraine to strike targets far behind Russian front lines and defenses.
Meanwhile, a Russian missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk killed one person and injured 31, including three children. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged in the attack.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is set to visit Kyiv to finalize discussions on Ukrainian grain imports. The war blockages in Black Sea ports have led to a surge of Ukrainian grain in neighboring countries, causing prices to drop and prompting some countries, including Poland and Hungary, to impose restrictions.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki demanded that President Zelensky never insult Poles again, referring to Zelensky’s speech at the U.N. headquarters where he criticized countries blocking Ukrainian grain imports. Poland initially threatened to stop sending arms to Ukraine as a result of the spat, but Polish President Andrzej Duda appeared to backtrack on the threat.
The situation in Ukraine remains highly volatile, with both Ukraine and Russia intensifying their military actions. The international community continues to closely monitor the conflict as the ripple effects impact global politics and economies.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.