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DRAMATIC footage shows the moment annexed Crimea was blitzed with a barrage of missiles as a key Russian airbase was blasted.
Enormous infernos ripped through the sky in the occupied port city of Sevastopol.
Putin’s crony in Crimea, Mikhail Razvozhaev, was forced to admit the Russian military foughtoff Ukrainian rockets in a “massive attack” on Saturday.
Local reports said the barrage had targeted the Belbek military airfield – home to Putin’s prized fighter jet fleet was also blasted.
Close to Putin’s main naval base, the airfield was hit just weeks ago by Ukrainian missiles in another humiliating blow.
It is believed to be home to a host of Russia’s fighter jet fleet stationed on the peninsula.
Ukraine’s daring hit comes as the latest embarrassment to embattled Putin’s war effort – possibly striking land, air and sea via Putin’s Black Sea Fleet comms centre.
The centre of the naval port is also currently “on fire”, according to one unconfirmed report on X.
A Crimea Telegram channel said: “The missiles arrived at the main special communications center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet”.
Ukrainian missiles have also reportedly hit several buildings in the occupied region.
Dramatic clips shared on X showed air raid sirens blasting out as smoke filled the sky.
Putin’s beloved £3billion Kerch Bridge – which has previously been hit by Ukraine and connects the Crimean peninsula to Russia – was also closed amid the barrage of aerial hits from Ukraine.
Some unconfirmed reports said Ukraine used British Storm Shadow missiles in the attack.
Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles can travel up to 600mph and blast targets up to 350 miles away.
It wouldn’t be the first time Zelensky’s forces had successfully hit a Russian target in the area with the formidable weapons.
Ukraine has had great success chipping away at Vlad’s prized Black Sea Fleet, and in September they used the missiles along with explosive-packed drone boats to damage two key Russian ships.
The Kilo-class Rostov-on-Don submarine took a hit in the shipyard strike, Kremlin-friendly Shot media said.
The diesel-electric vessel, launched in 2014, had been used to attack Ukraine.
And the second damaged vessel was a large landing ship called Minsk – a large Russian amphibious ship.
Other key Russian landing ships including the Saratov, Novocherkassk, and Caesar Kunikov have been damaged in previous Ukraine strikes.
It is not clear yet whether this attack hit some of Putin’s vessels in Sevastopol, not far from the embattled airbase.
When Ukraine hit the same key airfield just weeks ago, Ukraine’s Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk vowed it would be returned to their forces.
“Ukrainian aviators will definitely return to their home airfield,” the general said, posting a video of the purported strike showing plumes of smoke from the explosion.
He added: “And now thanks to everyone who joined in clearing Crimea of the Russian presence!”
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, Moscow thwarted the attack and shot down 20 Ukrainian missiles – 17 over the Black Sea and three more over the peninsula.
Tonight local governor claimed the same – thwarting 10 missiles in the humiliating attack.
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