– The strengthening of Russian positions in Crimea aims to ensure the safety of citizens, writes the governor of the region appointed by Moscow, Sergei Aksionov on social media.
In recent months, Ukrainian forces have conducted a broad-front counteroffensive in the south and last week they managed to take control of the regional capital Kherson, the main city in the region that borders Crimea.
President Vladimir Putin has said Kherson and three other southeastern regions are part of the Russian nation and says he will defend them with all available military means. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, says that Ukrainian forces will regain control of the Crimean peninsula.
