This image taken from UGC video shows smoke rising from the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, Sept 22, 2023. (PHOTO / CRIMEAN TELEGRAM CHANNEL VIA AP)

KYIV/MOSCOW/WASHINGTON/OTTAWA – Ukrainian forces launched a missile attack on the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, local governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said Friday.

"The enemy launched a missile strike on the fleet's headquarters. A fragment fell near the Lunacharsky Theatre," he said in a Telegram post.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed that it struck the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Crimea on Friday.

"The Ukrainian defense forces launched a successful strike on the headquarters of the command of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in temporarily occupied Sevastopol," the strategic communications directorate of the AFU said in a Telegram post.

Russian air defense systems shot down five missiles and that the historic building of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters was damaged

The attack was carried out at around midday local time (GMT 0900), it said.

The Russian Defense Ministry later confirmed that a serviceman had been killed in the missile attack.

It said that Russian air defense systems shot down five missiles and that the historic building of the Black Sea Fleet headquarters was damaged. 

Earlier in the day, the Russia’s Defense Ministry said that a building of Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the city of Sevastopol was damaged in Ukraine's missile attack.

"The enemy launched a missile strike on the fleet's headquarters. A fragment fell near the Lunacharsky Theatre," local governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said in a Telegram post. 

US to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles

President Joe Biden has told his Ukrainian counterpart that the United States will send Ukraine a type of long-range missile capable of striking inside Russia, NBC News reported on Friday.

The report cited three US officials and a congressional official familiar with the discussions, who were not authorized to disclose the information publicly.

Ukraine has long asked for the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, from the US to boost its fighting forces in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The Biden administration had feared that Ukrainian troops would hit targets inside Russia using the long-range missiles.

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It is unclear when the ATACMS will be delivered, nor is it certain when a formal announcement will be made, said the report.

President Zelensky was in Washington on Thursday for a meeting with Biden at the White House.

Biden told reporters after the meeting that "the first U.S. Abrams tanks" will arrive in Ukraine "next week." 

The screenshot taken from the video tweeted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (second, left) shows him greeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (second, right) at the airport on Sept 21, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Multi-year assistance from Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday new military, economic, peace and security, and development assistance and investments for Ukraine, after meeting with the visiting Ukrainian president.

In a press release posted on his office website, Trudeau said Canada is "shifting the approach to provide multi-year assistance."

He announced a new investment of 650 million Canadian dollars ($487.5 million) over three years to supply Ukraine with 50 armored vehicles, including armored medical evacuation vehicles.

According to the release, Trudeau and Zelensky signed the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, which ensures high-quality market access terms for Canadian businesses participating in Ukraine's economic recovery.

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The two countries have agreed to work with international partners to establish a working group of eminent persons to provide advice to decision makers on the seizure and forfeiture of Russian assets, including Russian central bank assets, the release said.

Trudeau announced an additional 34 million Canadian dollars ($25.5 million) in development assistance for four multi-year initiatives supporting mental health, small-scale farmers and restoration of agricultural livelihoods, local infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction, as well as technical assistance for inclusive recovery.

Trudeau also announced new sanctions targeting 63 Russian individuals and entities, the release said.

Zelensky, who was visiting Canada from Thursday to Friday, delivered a speech to parliamentarians Friday calling on Canada and other Western allies for further support.