Paranoid Putin claims UK and US helped plan strike on Black Sea Fleet headquarters

The Metro says Russia has 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.

The Russian naval base was struck by a Ukrainian missile last Friday, destroying vital infrastructure and killing at least 34 officers.

Following the attack, a furious Kremlin spokeswoman said at a briefing: ‘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 the advice of American and British security agencies and in close coordination with them.’

Moscow has frequently claimed that the UK, US and their Nato allies have effectively become involved in the war by supplying weapons and intelligence to Ukraine.