Ukraine hails 'fiery storm' in Sevastopol amid strikes on Russian warships
According to Russian reports, the Sevastopol Shipyard - the site of the construction and repair of ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet - was on fire.
The Sevastopol Shipyard on the Crimean Peninsula was on fire early on Wednesday and two ships were damaged after Ukraine launched 10 missiles and three speedboat attacks on the port, Russia's defense ministry said.
It's a fiery storm in #Sevastopol o'clock. pic.twitter.com/HNFiUCHy0h— MFA of Ukraine ๐บ๐ฆ (@MFA_Ukraine) September 13, 2023
Seven missiles were downed by Russia's air defense systems and all three boats were destroyed by a patrol ship, the ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
"As a result of being hit by enemy cruise missiles, two ships under repair were damaged," the ministry said.
๐ฅ Giant explosions at the ship repair facility for Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, occupied Crimea pic.twitter.com/V4gOQbZlwJ— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) September 13, 2023
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, the largest city in Crimea and a major Black Sea port, said on Telegram that at least 24 people were injured.
Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv.
Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, but has been saying in recent months that destroying Russia's military infrastructure helps Kyiv's counteroffensive.