Ukrainian Drone Attack Strikes Ammunition Depot in Crimea, Prompting Evacuation and Train Stoppage

KRASNOGVARDEISKY, KOMPAS.com – A Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea–an annexed territory by Russia–on Saturday (22/7/2023) blew up an ammunition depot.

The head of the Crimea region appointed by Moscow, Sergei Aksyonov, then ordered the evacuation of residents within a five-kilometer radius of the attack site and stopped train traffic.

The attacks come five days after the only bridge linking Crimea to Russia was attacked, killing two people.

Also read: Russia Claims Downed 28 Drones Over Crimea

Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. The peninsula was one of the targets of attack in the Russo-Ukrainian war, and in recent weeks the fighting has intensified.

“As a result of an enemy drone in the Krasnogvardeisky district, there was an explosion at the ammunition depot,” Aksyonov said on Telegram, quoted by the AFP news agency.

He did not specify which locations were attacked, only mentioning Krasnogvardeisky district which is located in the center of Crimea.

Authorities later announced that two trains from Moscow to Crimea’s main city of Simferopol and one from the opposite direction had been stopped.

Attacks on the Black Sea peninsula have increased in recent weeks. Ukraine launched a counteroffensive to reclaim areas captured by Russia, also aiming to retake Crimea.

Also read:

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke remotely at the Aspen Security Forum on Friday (21/7/2023), said that the Russian bridge in Crimea must be paralyzed.

Zelensky said the bridge, which was inaugurated by President Vladimir Putin in 2018, supplies ammunition to the Crimean peninsula.

Ukraine regards the bridge as an enemy object built in violation of international law.

Asked if Ukraine wanted to take back Crimea in a counteroffensive, Zelensky replied:

“The aim is to bring back all of Crimea, because it is state sovereignty, and our sovereign territory is an integral part of our country.”

Also read: Why are Russia and Ukraine at war, including over Crimea?

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2023-07-22 16:00:00
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