Ukrainian Special Forces Claim Killed Commander and Dozens of Officers When Attacking Russian Black Sea Fleet Headquarters

Black Sea Commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian special forces on Monday claimed they had succeeded in killing the commander and dozens of officers when they raided the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, as well as injuring hundreds of the unit's personnel.

If it is true that the attack killed Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral Viktor Sokolov, it would be one of the strategic attacks carried out by Kyiv against Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

"After the attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, 34 officers were killed, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. 105 other members were injured. The headquarters building could not be restored," Ukrainian special forces said on Telegram, reported by Reuters 26 September.

It is not yet clear how Ukrainian Special Forces confirmed and counted the dead and injured in the attack.

In a statement after the attack, Russia's Defense Ministry said one of its soldiers was missing, revising its earlier statement that the man had been killed, neither confirming nor denying Admiral Sokolov.

Meanwhile, air defenses managed to down five missiles, the ministry said.

Kyiv said destroying the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet would significantly speed up the end of the war.

Ukraine is known to be increasing its attacks on Russia in the Black Sea and Crimea. Kyiv has also begun using missiles, having previously relied on drones to carry out attacks.

Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry said Ukraine attacked the Russian Navy's Sevastopol shipyard in the Black Sea with 10 cruise missiles.