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KYIV — Ukraine launched a series of missile strikes on a Russian ship repair base in occupied Crimea early Wednesday morning, the Russian defense ministry said.
Locals in Sevastopol reported hearing a series of massive blasts near Southern Bay in the Russian-occupied region, with some posting videos on social media of the explosions that followed.
A huge fire erupted at the Sergo Ordzhonikidze shipyard, which Russia uses as a repair base for its Black Sea fleet.
The Russian defense ministry said Ukraine launched 10 cruise missiles at the shipyard, while three uncrewed vessels attacked Russian ships in the nearby bay.
“Air defense systems shot down seven cruise missiles, and the patrol ship Vasily Bykov destroyed all unmanned boats,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that, “As a result of being hit by enemy cruise missiles, two ships undergoing repairs were damaged.”
Sevastopol’s Russian-backed Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev claimed 24 people were injured in the strike, but said there was no risk to civilian infrastructure or the city.
Ukraine, which rarely claims responsibility for such strikes against Russia, has not commented on Wednesday’s attack.
Sevastopol has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian missiles. The port city is strategically important for the operation of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is headquartered there.
