Russian naval vessels persisted in their assaults on Ukraine despite reports from Kyiv of the death of the commander of Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet on Friday. President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for the arrival of US Abrams tanks in Ukraine, interpreting this as a strong gesture of support.

A spokesperson representing the Ukrainian Navy characterized the ongoing Russian attacks as disorganized, drawing a parallel to “a headless chicken.” He elaborated that the loss of the fleet’s commander and his team had disrupted the essential coordination required for effective naval operations.

It was underscored that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not directly oversee ship operations at sea but relies on his admirals’ expertise in managing naval forces.

These statements followed claims by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces that Russian Admiral Viktor Sokolov and 33 other officers were killed in an assault on the Black Sea headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea. This action marked a bold move by Ukrainian forces against the occupied peninsula.

CNN was unable to independently verify Ukraine’s assertions, and efforts to elicit a response from the Russian defense ministry were ongoing.

Ukraine had progressively focused on striking strategic Russian positions in Crimea, a region under Moscow’s control since 2014, with the goal of reclaiming the territory. Ukrainian Defense Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov maintained that Russia was utilizing Crimea as a logistics hub, with the ultimate objective being the liberation of Ukrainian Crimea.

Western arms supplies, including the recent delivery of US Abrams tanks, played a pivotal role in assisting Ukraine’s underequipped forces in defending against Russian assaults and mounting counteroffensives.

The arrival of the Abrams tanks was celebrated as a potent deterrent by both Ukraine and the Pentagon, furnishing the Ukrainian military with a formidable ground component after over a year and a half of enduring a protracted conflict.

In the aftermath of the Ukrainian strike on Sevastopol, Russia initiated a series of attacks on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, targeting both military and civilian infrastructure. Attack drones and missiles inflicted substantial damage, prompting accusations from Ukraine’s military of Russia violating international humanitarian law.

The assaults on Odesa were perceived as a retaliatory action following the strike on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters. Reports indicated damage to the city’s port facilities, power infrastructure, granaries, and private residences.

Russian forces employed an array of weaponry, including Iranian-made drones, hypersonic missiles, cruise missiles, and a submarine in their offensive. Ukrainian defense forces successfully intercepted numerous drones and missiles.

Russian forces also escalated their attacks on the Kherson region, a significant shipbuilding hub near the Black Sea, resulting in casualties and widespread destruction. The intense shelling prompted civilians to flee the area, leaving only a fraction of the population behind.

In summary, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea region persisted, marked by ongoing hostilities and responses from both sides. Western assistance, including the delivery of US tanks, remained a critical factor in Ukraine’s defense. The situation remained tense and unpredictable.

Source: with agencies