Ukraine has acknowledged its involvement in a missile strike on Friday that targeted the headquarters of Moscow’s Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea. This attack resulted in a substantial fire and has resulted in the disappearance of at least one Russian serviceman.

Ukraine on Saturday said dozens including senior Russian navy commanders died or were injured when it staged a missile attack on Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol a day earlier.

“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.

Ukraine claimed responsibility for a missile attack that struck the headquarters of Moscow’s Black Sea fleet in annexed Crimea Friday, sparking a huge fire and leaving at least one Russian serviceman missing.

The strike on the symbolic heart of Russia’s Black Sea fleet marks a major blow for Moscow, which has suffered a string of attacks on the strategically important port in recent months.

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

The attack sparked a flurry of warnings from Russian-installed officials, who urged residents to stay indoors and avoid taking photos from the scene.

The peninsula was simultaneously hit by an “unprecedented cyberattack” on its internet providers, said Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the Crimea governor.

Ukrainian and Russian attacks in and around the Black Sea have increased since Moscow withdrew from an accord that allowed safe passage to civilian cargo ships from three Ukrainian ports.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal warned that Russia had restarted its systemic campaign of attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, but that air defences were better prepared for the onslaught than last year.

During winter last year Russian forces launched repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid that left millions without electricity, heating and water for extended periods.

This year Ukraine has bolstered its air defences with support from its allies in the West, but officials have warned of new hardship ahead.

Khalil Wakim, with AFP