Storm Shadow Strike Destroyed Black Sea Fleet Headquarters; Russian Invaders Demolish Remains

Russian forces in temporarily occupied Crimea are dismantling the headquarters building of the Black Sea Fleet after it was hit by Storm Shadow missiles.

According to the outlet Krymskyi Viter (Crimean Wind), two missiles struck the site on September 22, 2023. Following the attack, the military stopped using the building.

The renovated headquarters stands on the same site where, in 1900, architect Feldman built the palace of the commander of the Black Sea Fleet.

After the 1917 Revolution, a branch of the fleet’s house of culture operated there, but the events of World War II completely destroyed the structure. A new headquarters building, designed in a strict and concise architectural style, was erected in 1958. Since its construction, the site had only recently undergone its first restoration.

During the Soviet and Ukrainian periods, the site underwent only major repairs, which helped preserve the exterior appearance of the architectural landmark.

Until 2014, the Russian Federation leased the building under bilateral agreements between Ukraine and Russia. Specialists avoided significant alterations so as not to disrupt the historic ensemble of the city center.

After the 2014 occupation, Russian command carried out internal upgrades to communications hubs and security systems. Between 2016 and 2018, specialists renovated the building’s façade and performed cosmetic repairs to the roof and interior spaces to accommodate a modern operational headquarters.

Storm Shadow Missile Strike. September 22, 2023

At around 1:00 p.m., missiles struck the Russian headquarters, causing serious damage to the building. At 2:50 p.m., the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the death of one serviceman.

For the attack, Ukrainian aviation used Storm Shadow missiles, which carry a 450-kilogram warhead. Later, the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine disclosed further details: the operation was officially named “Crab Trap” and was aimed at eliminating members of the command staff.

According to the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, high-ranking officers were inside the headquarters at the moment of impact. The attack effectively paralyzed the fleet’s command-and-control system for some time, as the building served as the main communications and coordination hub for naval operations in the Black Sea.

Later, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, reported that at least nine people were killed and 16 others wounded as a result of the strike on the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol. They included Russian generals.