Ukraine has launched a missile strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in occupied Crimea, the latest in a series of high-profile attacks on the annexed peninsula. Russia's defence ministry confirmed that one serviceman was missing following the assault on the navy building in Sevastopol.
Moscow-appointed governor Mikhail Razvozhayev urged residents to stay away from the city centre. Social media footage showed white smoke billowing from the rooftop of the fleet headquarters. Russian sources reported that the strike used Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK and launched from Ukrainian aircraft. Russian-installed authorities also said air defences downed another missile near Bakhchysarai.
Ukraine's military confirmed the strike was successful, without providing further details. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's security council, wrote on social media that the Russian Black Sea fleet would be 'sliced up like a salami' and face 'voluntary or forced self-neutralisation'. Separately, an official said internet providers in Crimea were under an 'unprecedented cyberattack'.
The attack follows a series of recent strikes on Crimea, including one on Wednesday night that hit an airbase near Saky, and another that damaged a landing ship and a submarine at a Sevastopol shipyard. Ukrainian forces have also breached the main Russian defensive line in the south-east, with armoured vehicles advancing beyond anti-tank obstacles near Verbove, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Meanwhile, Russia's defence spending is set to rise to 6% of GDP in 2024, up from 3.9% in 2023, indicating an intention to continue the war in Ukraine. This increase follows a doubling of defence spending to $100bn, a third of public expenditure, which has fuelled the economy but threatens financial stability. In contrast, the US has rejected Ukraine's request for ATACMS missiles in a new aid package.
