Ukraine Claims to Have Killed Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander in Crimea Attack

Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a recent attack in Crimea that it says killed the commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Viktor Sokolov, along with 33 other officers.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces asserted that their attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet resulted in the deaths of these officers and the injury of over 100 Russian servicemen.

While CNN cannot independently verify these claims, it has reached out to the Russian defense ministry for comment.

Ukraine has been increasingly targeting strategic Russian positions in Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. In the most daring strike so far, Ukraine targeted a Russian command post near Verkhniosadove, near Sevastopol, a few kilometers away.

The Institute for the Study of War confirmed through satellite imagery that Ukrainian forces had struck the 744th Communications Center of the Black Sea Fleet’s Command as part of their effort to target Black Sea Fleet facilities.

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence spokesperson, Andrii Yusov, stated that Russia was using Crimea as a “logistics hub,” with the ultimate goal of de-occupying Ukrainian Crimea.

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces revealed that the operation, named “Crab Trap,” was timed to coincide with a meeting of senior Russian Navy members, resulting in dozens of casualties, including senior leadership within the fleet.

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Before this attack, Ukraine had carried out a series of strikes on Crimea, including targeting a Russian military airfield at Saky, degrading Russian air defenses on the north-west coast, and conducting a missile attack on Sevastopol’s main dry-dock and ship-repair facility, reportedly crippling an attack submarine and a landing ship.

The attack on Saky caused “serious damage” at the airfield, according to Ukraine’s Security Services.

Sevastopol is Crimea’s largest city and was annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukraine has not abandoned its hopes of reclaiming the region.