In a significant development, a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea early Friday resulted in power cutoffs in the city of Sevastopol and a refinery ablaze in southern Russia. The drone raids were seen as Kyiv's response to Moscow's offensive in northeastern Ukraine, putting additional pressure on Ukrainian forces awaiting crucial weapons and ammunition deliveries from Western allies.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that air defenses successfully downed 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, and six over the Belgorod region. Additionally, Russian warplanes and patrol boats destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea.
The governor of Sevastopol, the main base for Russia's Black Sea Fleet, confirmed damage to the city's power plant due to the drone attack. Efforts are underway to restore energy supplies, with residents warned of potential power cuts in certain areas. Schools in the city have been temporarily closed as a precaution.
Earlier attacks by Ukrainian drones caused damage to aircraft and a fuel storage facility at Belbek air base near Sevastopol, as per satellite images released by Maxar Technologies. In the Krasnodar region, a drone attack sparked a fire at an oil refinery in Tuapse, which was contained without casualties.
Ukraine has been targeting refineries and energy facilities deep inside Russia, resulting in significant damage. Ukrainian drones also attacked Novorossiysk, a major Black Sea port, causing fires but no casualties reported.
In the Belgorod region, a Ukrainian drone strike led to the tragic death of a woman and her 4-year-old child when it hit a vehicle. Another attack set a fuel tank ablaze at a gas station in the region.
Simultaneously, Ukrainian troops are engaged in combat to impede Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region, particularly in the town of Vovchansk near the Russian border. Recent evacuations of around 8,000 civilians from the town have taken place amid escalating tensions.
Russia has been testing defenses along the extensive front line spanning approximately 1,000 kilometers through eastern Ukraine. Recent attacks have been observed in various regions, including Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, aiming to exploit Ukrainian vulnerabilities and stretch their limited resources.
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