War in Ukraine: drone attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet
Warships of the Russian Fleet during exercises off Sevastopol on February 12, 2022. AFP - HANDOUT
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A drone attack on Sunday July 31 targeted the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol in Crimea, injuring six, said the governor of this city on the annexed peninsula of Crimea, Mikhail Razvojayev.
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“
This morning, Ukrainian nationalists decided to spoil Russian Fleet Day for us
” celebrated in Russia this Sunday, Mikhail Razvojayev wrote on Telegram.
He specified that a drone had landed in the courtyard of the staff of the Fleet and reported six injured among the employees of the staff.
All festivities related to Russian Fleet Day "
have been canceled for security reasons
", announced Mikhail Razvojayev, asking residents of Sevastopol not to leave their homes "
if possible
".
Extensive celebrations are planned for the holiday across Russia, including a naval parade in St. Petersburg, which is to be overseen by President Vladimir Putin.
This is the first time that the Russian authorities have reported such an attack since the start of their offensive in Ukraine on February 24.
Ukraine denies being behind the attack
Ukraine, however, denied shortly after attacking the staff of the Russian Black Sea Fleet with a drone, calling the Russian accusations a "
deliberate provocation
".
Russian accusations of "
a so-called Ukrainian attack on the Russian Fleet Headquarters in Sevastopol
" are "
a deliberate provocation
", Sergii Brachuk, spokesman for the Odessa regional administration, said in a statement. video on Telegram.
“
The liberation of Ukrainian-occupied Crimea will happen in another, much more efficient way,
” he added.
In the very first days of its offensive against Ukraine, Russia conquered part of southern Ukraine, in particular the region of Kherson, located not far from the Crimea annexed in 2014. In recent weeks,
Ukrainian forces have returned to the offensive in the south
to retake these lost territories and had some success.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian strikes partially destroyed an important bridge in Kherson, a city occupied by Russian forces.
(
With
AFP)
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