Ukraine says Russian naval commanders killed in Crimean HQ during missile attack

Ukraine says dozens of Russian naval officers, including “senior” ones, have been killed in a missile attack against Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

The Ukrainian army said in a statement Saturday that the Russian navy officers were killed a day earlier after it launched a missile attack against the headquarters, which was engulfed in a huge fire following the aerial attack.

“The details of the attack will be revealed as soon as possible and the result is dozens of dead and wounded occupants, including senior fleet commanders,” the Ukrainian army said.

It said the strike was carried out when “a meeting of the Russian navy’s leadership” was going on.

According to Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, “at least nine people” were killed, including generals. He declined to say whether Western-made missiles were employed in the attack.

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on March 17, 2014, and formally applied to fall under Russian sovereignty following a referendum that had been declared illegal by Kiev. Moscow later annexed the region. Ukraine has vowed to take back Crimea.

The general leading the counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia area claimed on Saturday that the Ukrainian army has broken through Russian lines in southern Ukraine.

Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in June, but progress has been slower than expected, with heavily mined territory.

Talking to CNN, General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy acknowledged that the advance had been slower than Ukraine hoped.

“On the left flank (near the village of Verbove) we have a breakthrough and we continue to advance further,” he said.