Russia steps up Crimea’s security after mass attack with Ukrainian drones
After the most massive attack on Ukrainian drones on Russian military bases, Russian forces have significantly stepped up security measures of the occupied Crimea – the Ukrainian Partisan group Ates (fire) said.
According to them, the Russian anti -air defense is now patrolling around the key military airports in Saki, Shankoy and Guvardekoe.
Soldiers complain of exhaustion and lack of staff, while controls of the administrative border between the Crimea and the Herson area are further tightened.
The attack, carried out on the night of June 1, was directed to four Russian military bases, using 117 drones. According to Ukrainian sources, at least 13 Russian strategic bombers were destroyed or severely damaged, including Tu-95MS and TU-22M3, with estimated damage of about 6 billion euros. The operation, prepared by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) for more than a year and a half, included smuggling of drones in Russia hidden in truck wooden cabins. The attacks caused fires and the destruction of aircraft in the bases in the Irkut and Murman area. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the damage and said some of the attackers had been arrested.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski called the « brilliant » operation, noting that it was destroyed or damaged nearly a third of the Russian fleet of strategic bombers.
The Ukrainian Partisan group Ates is a resistance movement established in September 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The group is formed by Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars and acts on the occupied territories of Ukraine, especially in Crimea, but also on the territory of Russia.
