Ukraine: ‘Senior’ Russian naval officers among ‘dozens’ killed in Black Sea HQ strike

Kyiv says it carried out missile attack on target in Crimean port of Sevastopol during ‘a meeting of the Russian navy’s leadership’

By AFP 23 September 2023, 12:48 pm 2 Edit

This image taken from UGC video shows smoke rising from the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, September 22, 2023. (Crimean Telegram channel via AP)

KYIV — Ukraine on Saturday said dozens including senior Russian navy commanders died or were injured when it staged a missile attack on Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol a day earlier.

Ukraine struck the headquarters on Friday, sparking a huge fire.

“The details of the attack will be revealed as soon as possible and the result is dozens of dead and wounded occupants, including senior fleet commanders,” the Ukrainian army said.

It said the strike happened when “a meeting of the Russian navy’s leadership” was going on.

Kyiv’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed the attack killed “at least nine people” in comments to Voice of America, including generals.

AFP is not able to verify this information.

A video appeared online that shows the moment of the rocket strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. pic.twitter.com/GxZlmAkEVU

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) September 22, 2023