The latest in a string of attacks on the occupied peninsula as Russia braces for an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, two of Ukraine’s drones struck an oil store in Crimea, according to a Russian-appointed official there on Saturday.
Pictures and videos of the fire in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol were shared on the Telegram channel of Mikhail Razvozhayev, who was appointed as governor by Moscow.
In terms of how challenging it will be to put out a fire, the waterfront fire in the city obtained the highest rating from Razvozhayev. But he did claim that the open fire had been extinguished.
Four oil tanks were damaged in the oil store’s attack by “two enemy drones,” according to Razvozhayev.
According to Sergei Aksyonov, the governor of Crimea designated by Moscow, a third drone was shot down from the sky over the peninsula, while a second was deactivated using radio-electronic technology.
The majority of the world viewed Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea as unlawful. It violated international law and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The annexation was not recognized by the United Nations or the international community, and was seen as a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty. Russia’s actions were viewed as an act of aggression and were met with international condemnation, including economic sanctions imposed by the United States and European Union. The annexation of Crimea also sparked a conflict between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and ongoing instability in the region.
In an interview this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that his nation would be attempting to retake the peninsula in the ensuing counteroffensive.
At least 23 people were killed when Russia struck Ukraine the day before with over 20 cruise missiles and two drones.
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In the Ukrainian city of Uman, two rockets struck an apartment block, killing almost everyone inside.
Five children were among the dead, according to Ihor Klymenko, Ukraine’s interior minister, who also reported that 22 out of 23 bodies have been identified. Klymenko claims that one woman is still unaccounted for.
Overnight, Russian soldiers continued to launch drones in Ukraine. Two self-exploding Shahed drones built in Iran were intercepted and a reconnaissance drone was shot down on Saturday morning, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command.
The oil store fire, according to Razvozhayev, did not result in any casualties and will not affect Sevastopol’s ability to get gasoline. Attacks by drones in the city have been more common, especially in recent weeks.
The Russian military reportedly destroyed a Ukrainian marine drone that tried to assault the harbour earlier this week, and another one blew up, smashing glass in many apartment complexes but causing no additional harm, according to Razvozhayev.
The fire at the oil storage, according to Andriy Yusov, a representative for the Ukrainian military intelligence, was “God’s punishment” for “the murdered civilians in Uman, including five children.”
He said that more than ten tanks carrying fuel for the Russian Black Sea Fleet were damaged in Sevastopol, but he refrained from blaming Ukraine for a drone strike.
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Kyiv has refused to accept responsibility for prior strikes on Crimea while asserting its right to attack any target in retaliation for Russian aggression.
