Fresh satellite photos have revealed the extensive damage caused to two Russian naval assets in Crimea after a strike using British missiles. The attacked vessels, a submarine and a warship worth nearly £1bn, were left in ruins following the pre-dawn attack on Sevastopol, the main base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. This strike appears to be one of the largest in recent weeks.

Newly released images depict the Minsk landing ship and the Rostov-on-Don attack submarine severely damaged, with the remains crumbling and charred. The resulting fire at the shipyard injured 24 people, according to Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol.

Although Ukraine confirmed that it targeted Russian naval assets and port infrastructure, they have not provided official details on the nature of the attack. However, a source claimed that the drones used in the assault disabled radar stations, allowing Ukrainian navy units to strike the S300 and S400 air defense systems using Neptune cruise missiles. Earlier this year, the UK provided Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine’s armed forces, which are capable of being fired by Ukrainian aircraft with a range exceeding 150 miles.

Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the Royal Navy, was questioned about the Sevastopol attack during a speech at an arms fair in London. While he did not mention specific details or the UK’s potential involvement, he acknowledged the resourcefulness and willingness to take risks demonstrated by the Ukrainians.

It is worth noting that this attack occurred amidst ongoing offensives by Moscow, which resulted in the death of at least three civilians and the injury of 14 others across Ukraine. A separate drone onslaught in southern Ukraine’s Odessa region damaged port and civilian infrastructure, causing injuries to seven individuals.

These events took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, raising concerns about a potential arms deal to support Russia’s troops in Ukraine.