Putin–Kim Meeting in Russia’s Far East Marred by Missile Strike on Sevastopol

Moscow blames Kyiv for missile attack on Crimea that reportedly damaged two Russian naval vessels and left 24 people injured.

Smoke rises from the shipyard that was hit by Ukrainian missile attack in Sevastopol, Crimea, in this still image from video taken on Sept. 13, 2023. Reuters TV via Reuters

A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has captured the media spotlight amid fevered speculation about a budding relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang.

But only hours before the two leaders met in Russia’s Far East, the port city of Sevastopol in Crimea came under cruise missile attack, according to Russian authorities.