Russian Defense Ministry has reported that a Ukrainian missile strike targeted Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea, resulting in damage to the building housing Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters.

The ministry disclosed that one Russian serviceman is missing following the strike and that Russian air defenses successfully intercepted and shot down five missiles over Sevastopol.

Ukraine's Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, shared a video showcasing the aftermath of the missile strike and expressed gratitude to Ukrainian pilots. "Sevastopol is the city of the Naval Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces! Together - to victory!" Oleshchuk proclaimed on Telegram.

As of now, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces has not provided an official comment regarding the attack.

Mikhail Razvozhaev, the head of Sevastopol's illegal Russian occupation government, was the first to report the missile strike on the fleet headquarters. Razvozhaev asserted that, as a result of the air defense efforts, missile debris allegedly fell near a local theater situated adjacent to Sevastopol Bay.

Subsequently, Razvozhaev stated that there was no damage to civilian infrastructure and no civilian casualties reported. First responders are currently working to extinguish the fire at the fleet headquarters.

Residents of Sevastopol reported hearing several explosions at approximately 1 p.m. Kyiv time, according to the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne Crimea.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had successfully intercepted a Ukrainian guided missile and two drones over the west coast of Crimea at around 10:30 a.m. Moscow time. However, the accuracy of these claims could not be independently verified by The Kyiv Independent.

During the initial attack, Russian forces deployed a smoke screen over Sevastopol Bay, which houses Russia's Black Sea Fleet, as reported by local Telegram channels. Sevastopol is situated on the southern shore of the Crimean Peninsula.

This incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Ukraine and Russia and raises concerns about the stability of the region. International observers are closely monitoring the situation for further developments. (ILKHA)