• Thursday, 27 June 2024

Report: Drone attack in Crimea was aimed at Russian troop base

Report: Drone attack in Crimea was aimed at Russian troop base

Kiev, 13 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia-occupied Crimea over the weekend was aimed at a logistics base of Russian troops in the west of the Black Sea peninsula, according to a media report.

Seventeen drones were used in the attack which took place overnight from Friday to Saturday on the base near Yevpatoriya, the Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing sources at Ukraine's SBU intelligence service.

According to preliminary information, "dozens of occupants" were killed or injured. Equipment was also destroyed, the newspaper reported on Saturday night. However, the exact extent of the damage is still being investigated.

The information could not be independently verified.

Russian air defence had reportedly been activated over parts of Crimea on Friday night. According to the Defence Ministry in Moscow, Russian forces had repelled 20 Ukrainian drones.

The "foiled terrorist attack" had caused neither casualties nor damage, the ministry said on Saturday morning, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency. That information could not be verified either.

Separately Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that it shot down a Ukrainian drone in the Belgorod region, near the border of north-eastern Ukraine on Sunday. A report from TASS claimed the drone was shot down at 4 am (0100 GMT), saying there were no damage or casualties.

Russia has been waging war against neighbouring Ukraine since late February 2022. Drones are repeatedly used by both sides.