Ukraine's Offensive Move: Launching Missile Attack on Crimea

Ukraine recently launched a significant attack on naval targets and port infrastructure in Crimea, targeting the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet. Russia claimed that Ukraine had fired ten missiles and three unmanned boats in the attack. The incident resulted in a large fire at a shipyard in Sevastopol, leaving 24 people injured. According to the Moscow-installed governor, most of the weapons were intercepted, but two ships sustained damages. Ukraine has hinted that western-supplied cruise missiles may have been used in the attack, which is considered one of the most significant strikes on the Black Sea fleet since the war began. Unmanned vessels, also known as sea drones or drone boats, operate on or below the water's surface. They typically carry built-in explosives and cameras that provide live feeds to the operator. Furthermore, a photo shared by Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev on Telegram showed a ship engulfed in flames at the port, likely in the area where ships were being repaired. The damaged vessels include a large landing ship called the Minsk and a submarine named the Rostov-on-Don, both of which were reportedly in dry dock. However, the Russian defence ministry stated that both ships would be fully repaired and continue their normal service. Ukrainian military intelligence confirmed that the landing vessel and submarine were targeted but withheld information about the method used in the attack. In a Telegram post, the head of Ukraine's air force, Mykola Oleshchuk, expressed gratitude to his pilots for their "excellent combat work" and hinted at the use of UK Storm Shadow or French SCALP cruise missiles. These missiles have a range of over 150 miles (240km), triple the range of Ukraine's previous missiles. Ukrainian officials have not commented further on this matter. Content is circulating on social media showing unverified images of large explosions in the area. The fact that some missiles breached Russia's air defenses and caused significant damage is a cause for concern in Moscow. According to Russia's defence ministry, seven missiles were intercepted, and all three unmanned boats were destroyed. Russia annexed Crimea illegally from Ukraine in 2014, and this recent attack highlights the ongoing struggle for control over the waters. Ukraine has consistently expressed its goal of reclaiming the peninsula, and this is not the first time it has targeted Sevastopol and the Black Sea fleet. In a separate incident, it has been reported that Russian drones damaged the grain port of Izmail in Ukraine. The attack caused a fire, damaged infrastructure, and injured six people, according to the governor of the Odesa region, Oleh Kiper. Recently, Ukraine announced the recapture of four gas drilling platforms in the northern Black Sea, close to Crimea. These platforms, known as the Boyko Towers, were seized by Russia in 2015 after the annexation of Crimea.