Ukrainian Navy's bold strike on Russian fleet's oldest ship ignites fire in Crimea

In Sevastopol, Crimea, now under occupation, an attack on Sunday initiated a fire aboard one of the ships. The Ukrainian navy confirmed its strike against the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Mikhail Razvozhayev, the leader of the occupying authorities in Sevastopol, reported that Russian forces countered a missile attack. However, debris from the missiles ignited a fire on one of the ships.

According to the Krymskij Veter channel on Telegram, the vessel affected was the rescue ship for submarines, Kommuna - the Russian navy's oldest auxiliary ship, launched in 1915.

Hours later, the Ukrainian military acknowledged the strike and hinted at more to come.

Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian navy, expressed that similar actions against Russian military sites in occupied Crimea will recur.

"Today in Crimea, the Ukrainian navy targeted another ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the Kommuna. We're assessing the extent of the damage," Pletenchuk posted online.

Kommuna's role in the Russian Black Sea Fleet, highlighted by the Ukrainian news site Hromadske, is the oldest ship still active in naval forces worldwide, fulfilling combat duties. It is designed as a catamaran.

Since August 2022, explosions have become a regular occurrence in Crimea. When Ukrainian forces utilize missiles and drones, the Russian-controlled administration often claims these explosions result from anti-aircraft defenses or successful drone neutralizations.

The Ukrainian side is increasingly open about these missions, for example, confirming the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in attacks on the Crimean Bridge in October 2022 and July 2023. Last September, Kyiv acknowledged executing strikes on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters and a shipyard in Sevastopol, among other targets.

The annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by Russia in March 2014 followed a military intervention and an unauthorized referendum. Ukraine and the Western world have condemned the Kremlin's actions as breaches of international law.