Updated with confirmation from the Ukrainian military.
According to Russian and Ukrainian military officials, two Russian warships undergoing repairs at a shipyard in annexed Crimea were damaged during a Ukrainian cruise missile and seaborne drone attack on Wednesday.
The attack, which took place overnight, targeted a shipyard in Sevastopol, a port city and home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It caused a blaze that resulted in injuries to at least 24 people, as reported by Kremlin-backed officials in Crimea.
The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that the missile strike and seaborne drone attack took place, and stated that two Russian Black Sea Fleet ships were damaged.
“The Ukrainian armed forces launched a strike with 10 cruise missiles at the S. Ordzhonikidze ship repair yard,” said the Defense Ministry on the messaging app Telegram.
Additionally, Ukraine attempted “an attack with three unmanned boats against a detachment of Black Sea fleet ships” during a sea crossing, as confirmed by Russia’s Defense Ministry.
The Defense Ministry stated that their air defense systems successfully shot down seven of the cruise missiles, and a patrol ship destroyed all three seaborne drones used in the attack.
Kyiv’s military officials also confirmed the attack, noting that it had caused “significant damage to equipment and facilities” at the shipyard.
Open-source intelligence analysts have indicated that a military landing craft and a submarine were among the damaged vessels, although this information has not been immediately verified.
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Kremlin-appointed governor of Sevastopol, reported on the messaging app Telegram that he was present at the shipyard fire scene early Wednesday.
“According to preliminary information, a total of 24 people were injured as a result of the attack, with four in moderate condition,” he stated.
Throughout the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has consistently targeted Crimea, but there has been an escalation in attacks on the annexed peninsula recently.
