In a daring move to push back against a renewed Russian offensive, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Crimea early Friday, causing chaos and destruction in southern Russia. The attack, which targeted the city of Sevastopol and a refinery in Tuapse, resulted in power cutoffs and a massive fire, respectively.
Russian authorities reported that their air defences successfully downed a total of 101 Ukrainian drones in Crimea, the Krasnodar region, and the Belgorod region. They also claimed to have destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
The drone attack in Sevastopol damaged the city’s power plant, leading to power outages and forcing the temporary closure of schools. In Tuapse, the fire at the oil refinery was contained with no casualties reported. Ukrainian drones also targeted the port city of Novorossiysk, causing fires but no casualties.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops were engaged in fierce battles to halt Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region. The town of Vovchansk, located near the Russian border, has been a focal point of the fighting, with thousands of civilians evacuated from the area.
The Russian offensive has also targeted other regions along the front line in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia. The goal appears to be to stretch Ukrainian resources and exploit weaknesses in their defences.
As Ukraine awaits delayed deliveries of crucial Western weapons and ammunition, the need for resupply is becoming increasingly urgent. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues to escalate, with both sides engaging in fierce battles and strategic attacks in a bid to gain the upper hand.