Russia says West helped attack Black Sea Fleet HQ

Smoke plumes in Sevastopol after the missile attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters. Pics/AP

Russia on Wednesday accused Ukraine's Western allies of helping plan and conduct last week's missile strike on the Black Sea Fleet's headquarters in annexed Crimea. "There is no doubt that the attack had been planned in advance using Western intelligence means, NATO satellite assets and reconnaissance planes and was implemented upon of the advice of American and British security agencies and in close coordination with them," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

Hundreds including Ukrainian soldiers, family and mourners gathered in Shostka, Ukraine, for the funeral of Andrii Grinchenko who fought in the key battle for Andriivka

Moscow has repeatedly claimed that the US and its NATO allies have effectively become involved in the conflict by supplying weapons to Ukraine and providing it with intelligence information and helping plan attacks on Russian facilities. The accusation came the day after video appeared to show the fleet's commander, Adm. Viktor Sokolov, was still alive despite Ukraine's claims - without providing supporting evidence - that he was among 34 officers killed in Friday's strike on the port city of Sevastopol.

Russian attack cuts ferry service to Romania

Russia struck the Black Sea region of Odesa in a drone barrage that damaged a warehouse, charred dozens of trucks and injured two drivers in fiery explosions that led to the suspension of the ferry service between Romania and Ukraine, officials said. Video shot from the Romanian side of the Danube River showed rapid bursts of Ukrainian anti-aircraft fire streaking through the night sky followed by two orange fireballs exploding near the port area. Photos showed burned-out frames of trucks. Romanian Border Police said ferries were anchored on the Romanian shores of the Danube in Isaccea due to the attacks on Ukraine.

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