Russia-Ukraine war live: strike on Russian Black Sea fleet HQ killed nine and injured senior officers, Ukraine claims

Generals injured in strike on Russian navy’s Black Sea HQ

Nine people were killed and 16 injured, among them two generals, in a Ukrainian airstrike on Russia’s Black Sea naval headquarters in Crimea, according to the head of Ukrainian military intelligence.

Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, told the Voice of America that “among the wounded is the commander of the group, Col Gen [Alexander] Romanchuk, in a very serious condition. The chief of staff, Lt Gen [Oleg] Tsekov, is unconscious.”

A Ukrainian missile strike hit the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol on Friday. Footage posted on social media showed clouds of white smoke billowing from the rooftop of the building.

Soon after the strike Russia’s defence ministry said that one military serviceman was missing as a result of the assault.

Budanov did not confirm reports about the alleged death of the commander of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, Adm Viktor Sokolov.

“The number of casual military servicemen who are not employees of the headquarters is still being determined. These are military personnel who are on duty, security, and so on — they are not included in the list that I announced to you,” Budanov was quoted as saying by Voice of America.