Moscow — The Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, the biggest city in Ukraine‘s Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula, said the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet had been struck in a Ukrainian missile attack. He warned shortly afterward of possible further Ukrainian attacks, but that warning was later dropped.
Russian state media said air defense systems shot down 10 missiles headed for Crimea, but that the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol was hit by French-made Storm Shadow missiles.
The TASS news agency said six people were injured in the strike. Video posted on social media shows smoke billowing from a large building said to be the fleet’s headquarters.
“Attention everyone! Another attack is possible. Please do not go to the city center. Do not leave buildings. Everyone who is near the headquarters of the fleet — at the sound of the siren, proceed to shelters,” said Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on social media. The urgent warning of a possible further attack was later dropped, though Razvozhayev urged residents to remain at home.
The apparent missile strike came about 10 days after a Ukrainian attack on a strategic shipyard in Sevastopol damaged two Russian military ships that were undergoing repairs and caused a fire at the facility, according to Russian authorities. That attack came as Moscow launched drones at southern Ukraine’s Odesa region.
Ukraine didn’t immediately claim responsibility for the Friday attack on Sevastopol, which came a day after Ukrainian officials said a barrage of Russian missiles had struck a half dozen cities, killing at least two people and damaging electricity infrastructure in multiple regions.
The ongoing exchange of fire comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Washington to seek continued support for his country’s effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion. Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress have questioned how, and how much more military and humanitarian aid to send to Ukraine as President Biden seeks an additional $24 billion in aid.
Ratification of Mr. Biden’s request is deeply uncertain thanks to the growing partisan divide in Washington.
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