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, noted that debris from one ATACMS missile hit a nine-story building, puncturing its roof. The missile remnants also landed on several city streets, though no casualties were reported, according to RIA Novosti. Newsweek has reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry for comment.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, attacks on Crimea have intensified as Kyiv aims to reclaim the Black Sea peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Ukrainian forces have frequently used ATACMS missiles in their strikes, targeting military airfields they consider legitimate. 

On his Telegram channel, Razvozhaev reported that Russian air defense systems intercepted and downed four "air targets" during the attack. He clarified that the debris on Simonka Street came from a high-explosive ATACMS missile, not a drone. The missile had penetrated the building's roof and lodged in the top-floor mechanical room, but no injuries were reported. 

To ensure safety while pyrotechnicians work on clearing the debris, Razvozhaev announced a temporary evacuation of the affected area. Residents are advised to stay 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 this report could not be independently verified by Newsweek.

Concerns about Russia's air defense capabilities have been voiced recently by pro-war military bloggers. In June, Boris Rozhin, a Russian war blogger based in Crimea, called on President Putin to address the country's air defense issues following a reported Ukrainian strike on the Belgorod region that damaged a Russian S-300/400 system.