Ukraine claims responsibility for a missile attack on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea, causing a massive fire and leaving one Russian serviceman missing.

Ukraine hits Russian naval HQ in missile attack on Crimea

Kyiv (Ukraine) - In a major blow to Moscow, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a missile attack that struck the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea on Friday. The attack sparked a huge fire and left at least one Russian serviceman missing.

The strike on the symbolic heart of Russia's Black Sea fleet comes after a series of attacks on the strategically important port in recent months. Plumes of thick smoke were seen pouring out of the Russian naval headquarters, as shared on social media. Officials reported that missile fragments had fallen close to a nearby theatre.

"The headquarters of the fleet have been hit in an enemy missile attack," said Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, Crimea's largest city.

Ukraine confirmed that the strike had targeted Moscow's naval command base on the peninsula, which Kyiv has vowed to take back since it was annexed by Russia in 2014.

"Ukraine's defence forces launched a successful attack on the headquarters of the command of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol," the Ukrainian army stated on Telegram.

While a spokesman for the Ukrainian navy acknowledged that the attack seemed to be a "missile hit," they declined to confirm the navy's direct involvement. However, they did mention that similar measures might be taken in the future.

Russia's defence ministry initially reported that a serviceman had been killed in the attack but later stated that one serviceman was missing. The ministry also confirmed that the historic headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet had been damaged and claimed that air defence had successfully shot down five missiles.

Following the attack, Russian-installed officials issued warnings urging residents to stay indoors in case of further air raids and advised against taking photos from the scene.

Later on Friday, Razvozhayev, who governs the city with a population of around 500,000 people, announced that firefighters had brought the blaze at the fleet headquarters under control.

This missile attack marks a significant escalation in tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The two countries have been engaged in a long-standing conflict since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014. The situation in Crimea remains fragile, with ongoing disputes and sporadic acts of violence.

International observers and world leaders have called for calm and a de-escalation of the conflict. Efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute continue, but this recent attack on the Russian naval headquarters raises concerns about the potential for further violence and an escalation of hostilities in the region.

While there is no official confirmation of the country responsible for the attack, this incident underscores the deep-rooted tensions and ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to ensure peace and stability in the region.