Russian occupation authorities claim naval drone attacked Sevastopol

The port city of Sevastopol in Russian-occupied Crimea was attacked by a naval drone, Russian occupation authorities said on the morning of July 18.

“The loud noises heard in the city were our military’s response to a request for an attack by a naval drone,” Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-appointed commander-in-chief of the occupied city, said on Telegram.

Razvozhaev claimed the drone was destroyed.

Telegram channel Crimean Wind shared a video that allegedly shows defenses firing towards the sea against the drone.

Ukraine has not commented on the attacks. The Kyiv Independent could not confirm the allegations.

According to reports, the coastal region south of Sevastopol was also attacked by drones on July 15.

Sevastopol is an important port city and was chosen by Russia as the headquarters for its Black Sea Fleet, but successful Ukrainian attacks on occupied Crimea forced Moscow to withdraw most of its naval forces from the peninsula.

After repeated attacks, Russia withdrew its last Black Sea Fleet patrol ship from Crimea on July 15.

Ukraine had previously destroyed several Russian ships with naval drones, including a landing craft Caesar KunikowA Sergei Kotov Patrol vessel, high speed Serna and Akula landing craft, as well as a Tarantul-class Ivanovets Missile corvette.

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