Russia’s air forces successfully thwarted a coordinated attack by Ukrainian forces on Crimea early Sunday morning. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that at least six drones, originating from different directions, were destroyed in the process.
Two of the drones were destroyed off the western coast of Crimea at 1:15 a.m., with four more being taken out half an hour later off the northwestern and eastern coasts. The ministry shared this information on the Telegram messaging app. No information regarding damage or casualties was provided, and there has been no immediate response from Ukraine. Independent verification of the report is unavailable.
This recent event follows a series of strikes on Russian military targets on the Crimean Peninsula throughout the week. These attacks are seen as attempts by Kyiv to undermine Russia’s war efforts. The annexation of Crimea by Moscow in 2014 was widely condemned.
Additionally, the number of attacks occurring deep inside Russia, far from the front lines, has increased. Moscow’s mayor and the Russian Defense Ministry announced that a drone was destroyed in the Istra district in the Moscow region. No injuries or casualties were reported from the falling debris.