Kiev –
Ministry of Defence Ukraine reported that an explosion rocked the Dzhankoi region of the Peninsula Crimea the northerners have destroyed a number of proprietary cruise missiles Russia. However, Moscow said civilians were both targets and victims in the blast.
As reported ReutersTuesday (21/3/2023), the intelligence directorate at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine revealed in a statement that the cruise missiles were intended for use by the Black Sea fleet of the Russian Navy.
“An explosion in the city of Dzhankoi in the north of temporarily occupied Crimea destroyed Russian Kalibr-KN cruise missiles while being transported by rail,” said a statement from the intelligence directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
It stated that the cruise missiles had an operational range of more than 2,500 kilometers for land targets and a range of 375 kilometers for targets in the sea. The missiles are also said to be designed to be launched from surface ships belonging to the Russian military’s Black Sea fleet.
In a separate statement, a Russian-appointed official in Crimea, Ihor Ivin, said the explosion was caused by a number of drones carrying a load of metal fragments and explosives. Ivin mentioned that the drones attacked the Dzhankoi area and were shot down.
Ivin, who is the head of the Dzhankoi administration, also said that the drones attacked civilian targets.
One person identified as a 33-year-old man was injured in the explosion. The injured were said to have been hit by metal splinters from the drone that was shot down. He has been rushed to a local hospital and is expected to survive.
Reuters cannot independently verify the claims made by Ukraine and Russia.
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(nvc/ita)
