KYIV, Ukraine: Residents reported casualties, explosions and a road closure as a Ukrainian drone attack hit a Russian military base deep inside annexed Crimea. Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency said the same on Friday.
Earlier in the day, Russia reported one of the biggest coordinated Ukrainian air raids yet over Russian-controlled territory but said air defence systems had downed all 42 drones attacking Crimea before they could hit their targets.
In a recent development, Ukrainian intelligence officials have announced an operation targeting Russia’s 126th Coastal Defense Brigade, located in Perevalnoye—a town situated over 200 kilometers (120 miles) away from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The strike marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Andriy Yusov, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), confirmed the success of the operation, stating, “We confirm that there was a hit.” This revelation was reported by the Ukrainian media outlet Liga.Net. The targeted military installation, based in Perevalnoye, has been a focal point due to its strategic location in the ongoing conflict.
The incident comes against the backdrop of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, a move that was met with international condemnation. Moscow declared Crimea as Russian territory, leading to strained relations with Ukraine and Western nations. The United States has expressed its support for Ukrainian actions aimed at Russian military targets on the Crimean peninsula, advocating for its demilitarization.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, expressed a sense of determination following the strike, saying, “People — not only on the Ukrainian mainland but also in Crimea — need to remember and believe that our victory and their liberation are not far away.” This sentiment underscores the aspirations of Ukrainian authorities to regain control over the disputed region.
Residents of Perevalnoye, who shared their accounts through the Telegram messaging app, reported hearing explosions originating from the targeted military base. These reports also mentioned the possibility of casualties. However, due to the volatile nature of the situation, media outlets were unable to independently verify these claims at the time of reporting.
According to a user named Abdul Has, whose profile picture featured an individual in camouflage uniform, “Two people died on a firing range, one was taken to a hospital in severe condition. This is information from above, from the firing range.” Another user by the name of Vlad the Local indicated that approximately one person had lost their life.
Questions and concerns emerged among the residents, with one user named Julia Julia asking, “Why was a gate to the military town closed?” Such inquiries point to the confusion and speculation that often accompanies such incidents. Lis, another resident, urged fellow residents not to divulge sensitive information, stating, “Residents of Perevalnoye, I strongly recommend — don’t write here what happened and how. We help them to direct fire in the future with that.”
