Click to see full-size image. Via X (previously known as Twitter).
Early on September 13, a Ukrainian missile and drone attack targeted port infrastructure in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, which hosts Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
“Approximately 20 minutes ago, our enemies attacked Sevastopol,” Mikhail Razvozhaev, governor of the strategic port city, said in a Telegram post at around 3:40 a.m. local time.
Later, Razvozhaev said that 24 people were wounded , of whom four were in a moderately serious condition. Air defenses were activated against the suspected missiles. However, the attack caused a fire at a “non-civilian” facility in the city’s industrial district, according to the governor.
Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the strike in a later statement, saying that Kiev forces had fired ten cruise missiles at the Sevastopol Shipyard overnight.
“Last night, the Armed Force of Ukraine fired ten cruise missiles at the ship repair plant named after S. Ordzhonikidze in Sevastopol and three uncrewed boats at a detachment of Black Sea Fleet ships on a sea crossing,” the statement reads. “Air defense systems shot down seven cruise missiles. The patrol ship Vasily Bykov destroyed all the unmanned boats. Two ships under repair were damaged by the enemy cruise missiles.”
According to unconfirmed reports, the main strike was carried out by Ukrainian Su-24 fighter bombers armed with British Storm Shadow and French SCALP cruise missiles. The reports identified the vessels damaged in the attack as a Ropucha-class landing ship and Kilo-class submarine of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Videos that surfaced on social media showed several explosions in Sevastopol port as well as a number of interceptions above it.
In recent months, Ukraine launched aerial and naval drones at Crimea on several occasions. However, most of the drones were destroyed before reaching the peninsula.
The last attack was not only larger in scale, but also appears to have been planned with intelligence that the Kiev regime could not have obtained on its own. It is very possible that NATO, or at least some of its members, were involved in the planning.
The attack, which was apparently carried out to cover up for the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, will likely provoke a fierce response from the Russian military.
