A drone strike hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, officials said. Footage on social media showed a plume of smoke rising from a site in Sevastopol on Friday night, where the fleet is based. Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozayev later said on his Telegram channel that a drone had targeted the building. As reported by the Russian news agency Tass, he said: “I am at the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet now. “A drone hit the roof here 25 minutes ago. Unfortunately it was not shot down. There are no victims.”
read more
However, officials stationed in Russia in the region claimed the drone was shot down over the city by local defense forces, reports said. The Ukrainian government has not commented on the attack. This latest incident comes after an attack on the Russian-operated Saky airport, where several Russian warplanes are believed to have been damaged. Explosions were also reported at a munitions store in Russia’s Belgorod region with video appearing to show huge flames from the facility on Thursday. Local authorities told thousands of residents of villages near the ammunition depot to evacuate their premises after last night’s blasts. An eyewitness said: “For about 50 minutes, explosions are heard, a flash and smoke are seen. “The car shakes, the fence shakes. The explosions are frequent, they don’t stop.” Several explosions were also reported at an ammunition depot near Dzhankoi, which is also a key military transport hub. These numerous attacks behind Russian lines are now “likely stressing Russian logistics and air base in the south,” the defense ministry said. Separately, a Western intelligence official claimed that up to half of the fighter jets in Russia’s Black Sea fleet have been destroyed, in a briefing to reporters on Friday. Because of this, it has now “assumed a defensive posture,” but “the reliability of the fleet has decreased,” the official said.
