Russia, Moscow: On Friday, Russian state media reported that Ukrainian forces launched an attack on Sevastopol in annexed Crimea using U.S.-made ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems). Mikhail Razvozhaev, the Kremlin-appointed governor of Sevastopol, stated that debris from one of the ATACMS missiles struck a nine-story building, causing damage to its roof. The remnants of the missile also landed on several streets in the city, although no injuries were reported, according to RIA Novosti. Newsweek has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry to seek a response.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, there has been a marked increase in attacks on Crimea as Kyiv seeks to reclaim the Black Sea peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Ukrainian forces have frequently employed ATACMS missiles in their operations, targeting what they consider military airfields.
Razvozhaev reported on his Telegram channel that Russian air defense systems managed to intercept and shoot down four "air targets" during the attack. He specified that the debris on Simonka Street was from a high-explosive ATACMS missile rather than a drone. The missile had penetrated the building’s roof and ended up in the mechanical room on the top floor, but no injuries were reported.
To ensure safety while pyrotechnicians clear the debris, Razvozhaev announced a temporary evacuation of the affected area. Residents are advised to remain indoors and avoid areas with missile debris. Meanwhile, the Crimean Wind Telegram channel claimed that Ukrainian forces targeted several military assets, including an S-400 Triumph air defense system and its radar, though Newsweek could not independently verify this report.
August 1, 2024
Concerns about Russia's air defense capabilities have recently been raised by pro-war military bloggers. In June, Boris Rozhin, a Russian war blogger based in Crimea, urged President Putin to address the country's air defense shortcomings following a reported Ukrainian strike on the Belgorod region that damaged a Russian S-300/400 system.
