Crimea attacks (2022–present)

On the morning of 31 July, a drone with an explosive device attacked the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. 6 people were injured. Due to the attack on the city, all festivities on the occasion of Navy Day were cancelled.[7] Ukrainian officials denied involvement in the attack, but pointed out the weakness of Russia's air defense system in Crimea.[8]

On 9 August, a series of large explosions occurred at the Saky airbase in the city of Novofedorivka, Crimea. Reportedly, one person was killed[9][10][11] and 13 were injured.[12] 7 planes were destroyed and 3 were damaged, according to satellite imagery.[13] The military base had been seized by Russian forces during the 2014 annexation of Crimea. At first Ukraine denied any responsibility with presidential aide, Mykhailo Podolyak saying "Of course not. What do we have to do with this?" Later, the commander of Ukrainian forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi claimed that it had been a Ukrainian rocket attack.[14]

On 16–17 August, the Armed Forces of Ukraine allegedly carried out a series of acts of sabotage in the Dzhankoi district at an ammunition depot near the village of Majskoye and at an electricity substation in Dzhankoi itself.[15] Two people were injured.[16] According to the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, following the explosions, the occupying authorities of Crimea began an evacuation.[17] with around 2,000 people being reportedly evacuated.[16] Sergey Aksyonov, one of the heads of the Russian authorities in crimea, announced the containment of a zone with a radius of 5 km from the epicenter of the explosion and the evacuation of the population from this zone.[16]

On the morning of 21 August, explosions were heard in Sevastopol, Crimean authorities claimed that it was the work of air defense.[18] On the next day, explosions rang out again in the city, the occupation authorities announced that a drone had been shot down.[19] On 23 August, several explosions were heard, the anti-aircraft missile system also went off near the city, the governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that a drone was shot down over the sea.[20] On 26 August, the anti-aircraft defense system was activated in the village Novoozerne near Yevpatoria.[21]

On 7 September, several explosions rang out in Yevpatoria. The occupation authorities of the Russian Federation in the region announced the activation of air defense and the destruction of several drones.[22] On 21 September, a maritime drone was discovered on Soldatsky Beach in Kozacha Bay, Sevastopol. It was examined, then towed out to sea and blown up.[23][24] On 26 September, a series of explosions occurred in Yalta, Gurzuf and Simferopol, anti-air systems allegedly went off during the explosions.[25]

On 1 October, there were explosions at the Belbek military airport near Sevastopol, the air defense system allegedly shot down a drone in the area.[26] On 8 October at around 6:00am, an explosion occurred on the Crimean bridge. It caused two lanes of the roadway to collapse and tanks on a train on the rail bridge to catch fire.[27] Later in the day a single lane for motor vehicles was opened with alternating directions and a ferry provided for heavy goods vehicles. Rail traffic also recommenced.[28] The attack on the bridge was claimed by Putin to be the reason for the October 2022 missile strikes on Ukraine. On 27 October, a power plant in Balaklava, Sevastopol region, was reportedly attacked, causing minor damage, no casualties were reported.[29]

On 29 October the Sevastopol Naval Base, occupied by Russia, was attacked by unmanned surface vehicles and aerial drones. According to the Russian TASS, at 4:20 am on 29 October, a strong explosion sounded, after which several more "claps" were heard. Videos began to circulate in Telegram channels showing black smoke over Sevastopol and explosions could be heard.[30] Nine UAVs and seven USVs took part in the attack, according to Russian officials.[31] GeoConfirmed analysts believe that between six and eight drones participated in the attack on Russian ships and that they hit at least three ships; two naval drones were most likely destroyed.[32] One of the ships that appeared to be damaged in videos was the Admiral Makarov, Russia's Black Sea Fleet new flagship, following the sinking of the Moskva.[33][34][35]

Following the attacks the Russian authorities shut down broadcast from the city's surveillance cameras, saying that they "give the enemy an opportunity to detect the city's defense systems",[36] and prohibited entry of boats into the Sevastopol Bay.[31] Russia accused Ukraine and the United Kingdom of being involved in the preparation of the attacks, with Russian representatives saying that the attack was "carried out under the leadership of British specialists who are in the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv region) of Ukraine", Russian authorities also claimed that the same unit of "British specialists" was involved in the "terrorist act in the Baltic Sea", when the gas pipelines "Nord Stream" and "Nord Stream - 2" were blown up.[37] The UK Ministry of Defence responded, saying Russia was "peddling lies on an epic scale".[38] After the attack, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for four days.[29] Grain ships continued to sail from Ukraine despite the Russian announcement.[39] Before these events, Ukraine had warned about possible Russian plans to withdraw from the agreement.[40]

On 22 November, several explosions were reported on Sevastopol, witnesses reported that anti-air systems activated, maritime traffic had to be stopped as a result. local officials later reported that 2 drones had been destroyed during the alleged attack, and that another attack had been repelled over the Black Sea, no casualties or significant damage were reported.[41]

On 10 December, explosions were reported in Sevastopol, anti-air systems reportedly activated.[42] On 30 December, explosions were reported yet again in Sevastopol, anti air systems and Russian planes reportedly intercepted a rocket over the sea.[43]

On 2 January, explosions were reported in Sevastopol, anti-air systems activated and two drone were reportedly destroyed over the sea, according to Russian authorities.[44] 3 January, Explosions were reported again in Dzhankoi, anti-air systems reportedly activated, witnesses also reported the destruction of some type of "target".[45] On 15 January, more explosions were reported in Sevastopol, anti-air systems activated and allegedly destroyed one drone above the Sevastopol Bay, according to local authorities.[46]

On 3 February 2023, the United States government announced an aid package for Ukraine that would include the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), which can be launched out of existing Ukraine-operated HIMARS or MLRS launchers (or out of its own launcher) to hit Russian targets that had been moved out of GMLRS range. The GLSDB almost doubles the range that Ukraine could previously target with these launchers (150 km (93 mi) vs 85 km (53 mi) with GMLRS).[47] This "will put all of Russia's supply lines in the east of [Ukraine] within reach, as well as part of Russian-occupied Crimea", according to Reuters.[48] "Russia is using Crimea as a big military base from which it sends reinforcements for its troops on the southern front," said Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musiyenko. "If we had a 150km (munition), we could reach that and disrupt the logistical connection with Crimea."[48] It has been speculated that the GLSDB might allow Ukraine to target the Dzhankoi airfield in northern Crimea,[49] described as the logistics hub of the Russian army.[50] Dzhankoi is a critical rail and road hub in the supply network Russia has been using in its attack on Ukraine[51] and, along with its surrounding areas, has been described as the largest Russian military base in Crimea.[52] Ukraine holds the territory across the Dnieper River from Nova Kakhovka[53] (close to where the North Crimean Canal begins).[54] The distance between Nova Kakhovka and Dzhankoi is 141 km (88 mi).[55] It has also been estimated that if Ukraine were able to advance to Prymorsk on their southern coast, this would put the Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait within range of the GLSDB.[56] This bridge constitutes the main supply route for Russian military bases in Crimea and for Russian forces in southern Ukraine.[57][51]

Explosions were heard in the occupied Simferopol district on 4 March, a drone was reportedly downed over the village of Hvardiiske, there was no official confirmation of the reports by local authorities.[58]

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense said on 20 March that that Russian "Kalibr-KN" cruise missiles being transported by train in Dzhankoi were destroyed in a missile strike in Russian-occupied Crimea, the attack also severely damaged the railway system in the region.[59] The Russian-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, confirmed there was a strike and the region’s air defense system was activated.[60][61] Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to Aksyonov, claimed that the drone attack was aimed at civilian targets.[62] Local authorities declared a state of emergency after the attack. [63]

On 22 March, explosions were reported overnight in Sevastopol Bay, electricity allegedly went down as a result of these explosions, civilians reported hearing several "shots" and explosions over the bay during the night and morning, it was alleged that these loud sounds were the result of a drone attack, local telegram channels reported possible attack by UAVs and USVs, with one UAV allegedly downed; maritime traffic was interrupted after the alleged attack.[64]

Satellite images taken on 25 April 2023 of a Russian military base in Medvedivka, Dzhankoi District, showed that armoured vehicles and artillery present in this area in October 2022 and in January 2023 were no longer present. Experts have surmised that this may be related to defensive operations ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.[65][66]

Ukrainian forces likely attacked an oil storage facility in Kozacha Bay, Sevastopol on 29 April.[67] The resulting fire was said by occupation governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev to have extended over 1,000 square meters.[67] Footage is available showing a large fire at the storage facility.[68][69] The Ukraine military warned that this was a prelude to a much-anticipated spring offensive.[70]

On 11 May 2023 it was announced that the U.K. was sending "a number" of Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles to Ukraine. This weapon has an official range "exceeding" 250 km (160 mi).[71][72] While this falls short of the 300 km (190 mi) range of the U.S. made ATACMS,[73] it would allow a Storm Shadow missile fired by Ukraine from an aircraft flying above the city of Kherson to reach Russia's Sevastopol Naval Base in southern Crimea, home of Russia's Black Sea Fleet[74] (distance 245 km (152 mi)).[75]

On 17 July 2023 the Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait was again attacked, this time by two Ukrainian maritime drones, according to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee. At least one section collapsed but the railroad section appears undamaged.[76]

On 23 August, GRU released a video of a Russian S-400 missile system in Olenivka, Crimea, 120km south of Kherson, being struck by Ukrainian missiles resulting in its total destruction and the deaths of several Russian military personnel in the vicinity.[77]

On 24 August, Ukraine's Independence Day, the HUR announced that Air Force and Navy intelligence were involved in a special operation near the towns of Mayak and Olenivka on the Tarkhankut Peninsula, which saw an amphibious landing and airborne deployment of Ukrainian personnel on Crimea. The HUR announced that all objectives of the operation were completed, Russian forces suffered casualties, and that the Ukrainian state flag was once again flown over the Crimean peninsula.[78][79][80]

On 13 September a Ukrainian attack on Russia's Sevastopol Naval Base damaged two Russian warships. According to a number of sources the attack was carried out using Storm Shadow cruise missiles,[81][82][83] which are designed to penetrate deeply into their targets and inflict maximum damage in a two-phase process.[84] Experts have concluded from photographs that the Minsk, a large Ropucha-class landing ship, was damaged beyond repair.[85][86] Also damaged was the Rostov-on-Don, a $300M Kilo-class submarine.[87] Pictures have been posted to the internet.[88][89]

On 22 September, Ukraine struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.[90] HUR reported that the operation effectively decapitated Russian command, leaving dozens of high ranking officers dead "including the senior leadership of the fleet.”[91][92][93] According to the Ukraine military, the missile attack targeted a meeting of the Russian Navy's leadership. "After the hit of the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, 34 officers were killed, including the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet," they said. They also claimed that the strike wounded at least 100 other Russian service personnel.[94]

On 25 September 2023, Russian authorities have announced that they would demolish the existing headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet.[95]