The Russian defense ministry throughout the conflict has been cagey about releasing any information on its war casualties.
Russian officials have retracted an initial report that a serviceman had died as a result of this morning’s attack on the Russian Black Sea fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea.
A statement confirming one death from the missile strike has been replaced, with the individual now said to be «missing in action.»
Both Russia and Ukraine have been careful to reveal the bare minimum of information about war casualties on their respective sides, with Russia’s last official estimate coming a year ago, in September 2022. Back then Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed 5937 service personnel had been killed in the war so far.
The Black Sea fleet headquarters building has previously been the target of suspected Ukrainian drone strikes, while another navy command post in Sevastopol was hit with a cruise missile on Wednesday.
The strikes followed last week’s missile and drone bombardment of the dry dock facilities in the strategic Black Sea harbor, which are thought to have destroyed two Russian military vessels, including a Kilo-class submarine.
