Russia says Ukraine launched missile attack on Crimea

The mayor of Sevastopol says the Ukrainian military launched a missile attack on the city, causing a fire at a shipyard.

"The enemy attacked the city of Sevastopol at dawn. Air defense forces took part in the battle. Preliminary data show that the missile attack caused a fire at the Sevastopol Shipyard facility in the Kilen-balka area, injuring 24 people," Sevastopol Mayor Mikhail Razvozhaev said today.

Mr Razvozhaev said rescuers were deployed at the scene and air defence units were monitoring the airspace situation around the Crimean peninsula.

Russian media earlier reported that multiple flashes of light were seen in the sky over Sevastopol at 3am, while a series of objects were shot down in the waters off the city.

Russian air defense crews participating in the operation in Ukraine. Photo: RIA Novosti

The Russian Defense Ministry and the Ukrainian military have not commented on the information.

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after a referendum in 2014. Moscow said the results showed most Crimeans wanted to become part of Russia, but Kiev and Western countries considered the move illegal. Ukraine has said it will take back Crimea "at all costs", including military means.

Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, and other locations in Crimea have been frequently attacked since Moscow launched its campaign in Ukraine.

Location of the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula. Graphics: RYV

A Ukrainian source said the raids on Crimea were an “integral part” of their counter-offensive strategy, aimed at trying to isolate the peninsula and make it difficult for Russia to sustain military operations in its conflict with Ukraine in other regions.

However, many officials in the administration of US President Joe Biden said that the raids on the Crimean peninsula carried out by Ukraine were just "diversionary efforts" and could even "waste valuable resources" in a strategy that risks causing Ukrainian forces to be stretched between multiple axes of attack.

Vu Anh (According to RIA Novosti, Reuters )

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