It said: “The daring and painstaking work of the Special Operations Forces enabled them to hit the Black Sea Fleet headquarters ‘on time and with precision’ while the Russian Navy’s senior staff was meeting in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol.
“The data was transmitted to the Air Force for strike. The details of the attack will be revealed once it is possible.
“The result is dozens of dead and wounded occupiers, including the senior leadership of the fleet.”
Putin’s naval fleet in the region is considered to be among Russia’s military elite.
Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, told Voice of America that at least nine people were killed and 16 others wounded as a result of Kyiv’s attack.
He also claimed Alexander Romanchuk, a Russian general commanding forces along the key southeastern front line, is “in a very serious condition”.
Moscow said last night that one service member was missing – and has reported another missile attack on Sevastopol this morning.
The city was placed under an air raid alert for around an hour after debris from intercepted missiles fell near a pier, according to Russian-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram channels also indicated loud blasts were heard near Vilne in northern Crimea, followed by rising clouds of smoke.
Crimea was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to take it back.
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