The first pictures of a Russian warship struck by Ukrainian missiles in occupied Crimea have revealed the severe damage it sustained in the attack.

SCALP missiles, the French version of the Storm Shadow, hit the Russian vessel stationed at the Zalyv dockyard in the port city of Kerch on Saturday.

The Askold is a newly-built small Karakurt-class warship armed with eight Kalibr cruise missiles that was reportedly going through its final fittings at the harbour before being commissioned into the Black Sea Fleet.

The British Ministry of Defence said the strike on Crimea’s shipbuilding infrastructure “will likely” force Russia to consider relocating further away from the frontline.

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