Ukraine has launched a major attack the Crimean naval port of Sevastopol overnight which was rocked by “loud” explosions, Russian authorities have confirmed.
Ukrainian sources said that they completely destroyed a £115 million Russian defence system in what has been described as “one of the most impressive ATACMS strikes.”
Six long-range ATACMS missiles were used with cluster warheads that also destroyed a radar.
Ukraine destroyed the Russian S-300 missile defence system near to Mariupol which will be seen as a serious threat for Moscow as it paves the way for an F-16 fighter jet attack.
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Military expert Oleksandr Musienko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Military and Legal Research, told Channel 24, “It is extremely important for the defence forces to destroy enemy anti-aircraft missile systems.
“This gives more opportunities for the work of our aviation.”
Ukrainian commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed the successful attack on Crimea and sources described it as “one of the most impressive ATACMS strikes recorded during the war.”
The Crimean peninsula was attacked with unmanned boats and air drones in the Black Sea.
According to Russian state run TASS news agency Russia claimed to destroy 10 Ukrainian sea drones and 33 air drones as they approached Crimea.
The Mayor of the seaport city of Novorossiysk issued an alert on Thursday morning as a sea drone attack lasted for more than two hours.
Novorossiysk is the largest Black Sea port and residents were warned to stay clear of the shoreline.
BREAKING ‼️ Russian telegram channels report a major naval drone attack in Novorossiysk with this video
Crimea was also attacked according to these
Awaiting clarification pic.twitter.com/njDkKLuJ3H
— PS01 (@PStyle0ne1) July 18, 2024
Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-installed head of the occupied city, said on Telegram, “The loud noises that were heard in the city were our military’s response to a request for an attack by a naval drone.”
On Monday Russia’s last patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet has now left Crimea as the annexed peninsula has been bombarded by Ukraine since the war started.
Ukrainian forces have been targeting Russian warships with sea drones and missiles blowing up Vladimir Putin’s ships for many months which has now prompted Moscow to redeploy what vessels they have left.
