Ukraine reports painful Crimean losses for Russia in Ukraine war

Ukraine is said to have carried out several attacks in Crimea. A military airfield and a command post were seriously damaged.

Kiev – Ukraine claims to have carried out a military mission on the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula as part of its ongoing offensive against Russia. Several Russian soldiers were killed, equipment was damaged and aircraft were destroyed at a military airfield on Thursday night. Russia initially did not officially comment on the attack.

Ukraine reports heavy blow against Russia: military airfield in Crimea hit

Several Ukrainian media outlets reported the attack, citing the Ukrainian secret service (SBU). Together with the Ukrainian army, a “combined attack” was launched on an airfield near the city of Saki, where there were at least a dozen warplanes and a Panzerir missile defense system. Ukrainian drones initially weakened the enemy’s air defense. The resulting gaps were then used to attack the airfield with Neptune rockets.

It is not known exactly what damage was caused by the attack on the Crimean peninsula. Information of the Kyiev Post According to reports, there were at least twelve Su-24 and Su-30 fighter jets at the airfield, as well as Pantsir anti-aircraft missiles and gun systems and a training base for operators of the Iranian Mohajer-6 drone.

“Russian Telegram channels confirm heavy destruction and losses – they write of at least 30 dead soldiers,” the newspaper quoted an internal SBU source as saying. According to Ukrainian information, there is also a training center for drone pilots on the site, whose equipment was damaged in the attack. The information cannot yet be independently confirmed.

Ukrainian offensive: Secret command post in Crimea hit

In addition to the attack on a Russian military airfield, SBU sources report another rocket attack on a secret command post of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, also located on the Crimean peninsula. “The attack was carried out after the SBU verified the data that the commanders of the enemy fleet were actually present in the military unit,” the source told the Kyiv Post.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Since the beginning of the Ukraine War, the Ukrainian army has repeatedly targeted the peninsula. The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly stated that it wants to retake Crimea. “The occupiers cannot feel safe on the occupied peninsula,” SBU circles said on Thursday. Meanwhile, several Ukrainian cities and regions were targeted by massive Russian airstrikes overnight. (nz/afp)

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