Of . – 08/19/2022 09:19 (act 08/19/2022 09:27)
According to Russian information, two drones were shot down over the Crimean peninsula. ©STRINGER / AFP
Russian anti-aircraft defenses reportedly shot down drones at two strategically important locations on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula.
There was a defense against air strikes on Thursday night at Crimea’s largest military airfield, Belbek, near Sevastopol, local governor Mikhail Rasvozhayev announced. Anti-aircraft fire and explosions can also be heard over the city of Kerch. A drone was also shot down at the scene.
War in Ukraine: Drones shot down in Crimea
In Kerch, the strategically important road and rail bridge connects Crimea to the Russian mainland. In Russia’s Belgorod region, an ammunition depot caught fire near the Ukrainian border. The incidents far behind the real front line came just hours after a tripartite summit of Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey in Lviv (Lemberg).
Ukraine has the right to remove military objects in Crimea
The Ukrainian army has the right to destroy Russian military installations in Crimea, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak said on television. Kiev’s leadership has not officially claimed responsibility for the increasing number of explosions and incidents in Crimea. At the same time, it is clear that Ukraine is putting pressure on the Russian army on the hitherto untouchable peninsula, which serves as a military staging area.
A column of black smoke can be seen over Crimea on Thursday
After the explosions of the last few days, another column of black smoke was observed on Thursday afternoon in western Crimea, near Mezhvodnoje. The local civil defense spoke of burning grass. According to Governor Raswoschajew, there was no damage or injuries from the downed drone at Belbek Air Base. The reports were not initially independently verifiable. After the events, there was an aerial alert over the whole of Ukraine on Friday night.
Putin meets in Sochi with Kazakh leader Tokayev
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Sochi. Resource-rich Kazakhstan in Central Asia is an ally of Russia. When it comes to the war against Ukraine, however, Kazakhstan is very careful to keep its distance from Moscow.