Russian President Vladimir Putin and his forces in occupied southern Ukraine are determined to retain control of Crimea, as it is key to Russia's regional power projection and allows them to dominate the Black Sea region, project force into the Mediterranean, and supply their units in neighboring oblasts.
The Sevastopol Shipyard in Crimea was set on fire after Ukraine launched a missile attack, injuring at least 24 people, according to the governor of Sevastopol.
Ukraine's missile attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol has caused significant damage and could have long-term consequences for Moscow's military capabilities, potentially impacting repair facilities and reducing combat potential, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Explosions reported in the Crimean city of Sevastopol were claimed by Ukrainian intelligence sources to be a joint operation by Ukraine's military intelligence and Navy, while the Moscow-installed governor said they were due to harmless aerosol camouflage used by the Black Sea Fleet.
The Ukrainian military successfully targeted a command post for Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, resulting in a large fire and black smoke filling the sky, despite Russian-backed authorities claiming minimal damage.
The Ukrainian army claims to have struck a Russian military airfield near the Crimean town of Saky, while several cities and towns in Ukraine were hit by Russian rockets, killing two and injuring others; Poland has announced it will no longer supply weapons to Ukraine amid a growing rift between the two countries over grain.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have attacked a secret Russian headquarters in Melitopol, resulting in injuries and deaths among Russian officers.
Ukraine launched a missile attack on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, causing a serviceman to go missing and the main building to catch fire.
Ukraine conducted another attack on Sevastopol in Crimea following a strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, while Russian air defenses intercepted missiles headed towards the city and Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, suggested the resumption of a grain export deal was unlikely.
Russia's Defense Ministry claims that its Black Sea fleet commander, Viktor Sokolov, whom Ukraine claimed to have killed, was actually attending a meeting.
Ukrainian strikes in the ongoing conflict have reportedly killed key figures among Russia's top military leaders, hindering the Russian army's operations and disrupting their command and control network, ultimately aiming to degrade their forces' ability to plan and conduct coordinated operations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a top commander of the Wagner military contractor to lead "volunteer units" fighting in Ukraine, suggesting that the Kremlin plans to continue using the mercenaries despite the death of their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Vladimir Malov, a Russian official in occupied Ukraine and ally of President Vladimir Putin, was killed in a car explosion, raising concerns of targeted assassinations of collaborators with Russian forces in Ukraine.
Ukrainian forces are currently fighting off a major Russian offensive in the strategically important city of Avdiivka, with Russia sending in tanks, armored vehicles, and thousands of troops in an attempt to cut off and surround the Ukrainian forces inside the city's defenses.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/5CK35WUM3NJZTAVAJ32LWMWD4U.jpg)