Ukrainian forces focused the Crimean Bridge and a variety of different unspecified targets on the Crimean peninsula on Saturday (12 August) in a flurry of rocket and drone assaults, however there have been no casualties or injury, Russia’s Defence Ministry stated.
Russia’s Overseas Ministry vowed retaliation for what it known as a “terrorist assault” on the bridge in Crimea, which Moscow forcibly annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Russia’s Defence Ministry stated Ukraine had unsuccessfully tried to strike the bridge throughout the Kerch Strait with S-200 rockets, forcing its short-term closure to visitors. A contemporary assault on Saturday afternoon once more shut down the bridge.
The 19-km bridge, which hyperlinks Russian-annexed Crimea to Russia, has come below repeated assault from Ukrainian forces since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
“The Ukrainian missile was detected in a well timed method and was intercepted within the air by Russian air defence programs. No injury or casualties have been reported,” the Defence Ministry stated.
In an announcement posted earlier on the Telegram messaging app, Russian-installed Crimea governor Sergei Aksyonov stated two rockets had been downed by anti-aircraft defences close to the bridge. He additionally stated the bridge was undamaged.
Aksyonov later reported a 3rd unsuccessful rocket assault on the bridge.
“Thanks to our air defence forces for a excessive degree of professionalism and vigilance,” he wrote on Telegram.
Footage circulating on Russian social media on Saturday appeared to indicate the bridge wreathed in smoke. Reuters couldn’t confirm the photographs.
‘Barbaric actions’
Ukraine nearly by no means publicly claims accountability for such assaults however has stated destroying Russia’s navy infrastructure is essential for its counteroffensive.
Russian Overseas Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the newest assaults on the bridge, saying they posed a hazard to harmless lives and civilian infrastructure.
“There could be no justification for such barbaric actions and they won’t go unanswered,” she wrote on Telegram.
Individually, Russian forces destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones launched onto the Crimean Peninsula earlier on Saturday, Russia’s Defence Ministry stated.
There have been no casualties and no injury because of the drone assaults, the ministry stated on Telegram. It stated 14 drones have been destroyed by air defence programs and 6 have been suppressed by digital warfare.
Reuters couldn’t independently confirm the report. It was not clear what had been focused in these reported assaults.
Drone assaults on Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine and deep inside Russia have elevated since a drone was destroyed over the Kremlin in early Could.
The Crimean Bridge was badly broken final October in a strong blast that Russian officers stated was brought on by a truck that blew up whereas crossing the bridge, killing three folks.
Ukraine’s SBU home intelligence company later claimed accountability for the sabotage operation.
The bridge, which is the one direct hyperlink between the transport community of Russia and the peninsula, was a flagship undertaking for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who opened it for street visitors to a lot fanfare by driving a truck throughout in 2018.
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