In Crimea, The Smashed Headquarters Of The Russian Navy Is Being Demolished

• 25.02.2026, 10:36

The building was hit by Ukrainian Storm Shadow missiles.

In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russian authorities have begun dismantling the building of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, which was hit by Ukrainian missiles in September 2023. This is reported by "Crimean Wind".

September 22, 2023, around 13:00, the facility was hit by a missile strike. For the attack, the Ukrainian aviation used Storm Shadow cruise missiles with a 450 kg warhead.

After two missiles hit, the building was severely damaged and actually ceased to operate. The Russian Defense Ministry then confirmed the death of one serviceman. At the same time, the then head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov claimed at least nine dead and 16 wounded, among them Russian generals.

The operation was dubbed "Crab Trap." According to the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, high-ranking officers were in the headquarters at the time of the strike. The attack temporarily paralyzed the fleet control system, as the building served as a key hub for communication and coordination of naval operations in the Black Sea.

History of the building

The headquarters was located on the site of the palace of the fleet commander, built in 1900 by architect V. A. Feldman. After the revolution of 1917, the building was used as a fleet house of culture, and during World War II it was destroyed.

The modern headquarters building was built in 1958. During the Soviet and Ukrainian periods, it underwent only major repairs without significant rebuilding, which allowed it to preserve the historic appearance of the city center.

Before 2014, Russia leased the facility under interstate agreements with Ukraine. After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian command modernized communication and security systems, and in 2016-2018 renovated the facade and interior spaces.