Kyiv fends off drone attack
Russia allegedly prevents attack on Crimea
September 10, 2023, 7:55 a.m
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Moscow attacks Kiev again at night with numerous drones. Some can be repelled, but debris still causes destruction. Russia also claims to have repelled alleged Ukrainian attacks on the Crimean peninsula. However, there is no evidence.
According to the Defense Ministry, Russia has destroyed several Ukrainian naval boats and drones in the Black Sea headed for the Crimean peninsula. The ministry in Moscow announced that aircraft from the Black Sea Fleet destroyed three military speedboats of the US Willard Sea Force type with crew northeast of the Snake Island. There was no information about victims. The boats were heading towards the Crimean peninsula. The ministry had previously announced that air defense had also repelled attacks with eight drones near the Crimean coast during the night. The information could not be verified.
Ukraine recently repeatedly attacked Crimea, which was annexed in 2014 in violation of international law. There were several serious explosions at Russian military bases. There was severe damage, deaths and injuries. Russia had increased its anti-aircraft defense and also increased patrols in the Black Sea to repel the attacks.
According to the head of the Kiev military administration, Serhiy Popko, Russia, for its part, again attacked the Ukrainian capital Kiev with drones. The air defense shot down “more than two dozen” of the unmanned missiles, Popko wrote on Telegram. However, he did not provide any information as to whether all drones could be intercepted. According to an AFP journalist, around ten explosions were heard.
Debris causes fire
According to Popko and Mayor Vitali Klitschko, debris from downed drones fell in the Podilsky, Shevchenkivsky and Sviatoshynsky districts. Most of the debris fell on open and undeveloped areas, Popko explained. However, several cars, bus contact lines and roads were damaged. In the Shevchenkivsky district, falling debris sparked a fire in a residential building, but Popko said it was quickly extinguished. In addition, fallen debris reportedly sparked a fire in the well-known Sowky Park.
Overall, the Ukrainian attacks in the Black Sea or on the Crimean peninsula are disproportionate to the heavy bombardments by Russia, which launched the war of aggression against Ukraine more than a year and a half ago. During its ongoing counteroffensive, Ukraine had always made it clear that it was also concerned with liberating the peninsula from Russian occupation. While the nuclear power Russia warned that it would defend Crimea using all the means at its disposal, Kiev is convinced that Moscow will not go as far as using nuclear weapons. In the offensive, Ukraine primarily wants to bring the areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia, some of which are occupied by Russia, back under its complete control.