In a daring move to retaliate against Moscow’s offensive in northeastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces launched a massive drone attack on Crimea early Friday, causing chaos and destruction in the region. Russian authorities reported that the city of Sevastopol was left without power, and a refinery in southern Russia was set ablaze as a result of the drone raids.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that they had downed a total of 101 Ukrainian drones – 51 over Crimea, 44 over the Krasnodar region, and 6 over the Belgorod region. Additionally, Russian warplanes and patrol boats destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea. The governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, confirmed that the city’s power plant was damaged in the attack, leading to a temporary closure of schools and a potential day-long wait for energy supplies to be restored.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops were engaged in fierce battles to halt Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region, with the town of Vovchansk being a key battleground. The Ukrainian authorities evacuated around 8,000 civilians from the town as the fighting intensified. Russian forces have been testing defenses along the front line in eastern Ukraine, aiming to stretch Ukrainian resources and exploit weaknesses in the region.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has escalated in recent days, with both sides engaging in aggressive tactics to gain the upper hand. The situation remains tense, with the international community closely monitoring the developments in the region.