Kiev source: Ukraine attacked Russian base in Crimea

Ukrainian air and sea drones attacked Russian military targets on the annexed Crimean peninsula, a defense source in Kyiv told AFP on Thursday, after Moscow reported a nighttime drone attack.

Ukrainian forces have recently increased their drone and missile attacks on Russian military facilities on the peninsula, which was captured by Russian forces in 2014.

The source said that an operation by the Navy and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had damaged or disabled, among other things, a command center and an ammunition depot on Lake Donuzlav in western Crimea.

“This is another reminder to the enemy that Ukrainian Crimea is turning into a trap for the Russians, in which they will be systematically destroyed,” the source said in the written comment.

AFP could not independently verify the claims and there was no immediate response from Moscow on the specific locations Kyiv said were hit.

Moscow had previously said its defense systems shot down 33 Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight, as well as ten naval drones heading toward the peninsula. Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev had earlier said on Thursday that loud noises in the Crimean city were linked to a retaliatory strike by the Russian army “against an attempted attack by a surface drone.” Late last month, Moscow accused Ukraine of carrying out a deadly attack in Crimea using US missiles. According to Russian-appointed local authorities, at least four people were killed, including two children, and more than 150 injured.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, two drones were also neutralized overnight in the western Russian region of Bryansk.

“There were no casualties or damage,” local governor Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram on Thursday.

Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian territory this year, targeting energy facilities it says supply the Russian army as well as towns and villages just across the border and in Crimea.