A video shows the moment when a suspected Ukrainian surface drone exploded overnight in the annexed Crimean naval port of Sevastopol.
“Our fleet is now repelling an attack by drones…,” said Moscow-installed governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, 42.
“All city services are standing by.”
He claimed that an incoming drone was ‘disabled by the anti-submarine/sabotage defense forces’ while a second ‘exploded on its own’.
According to Russian sources, one attack came at 03:31 and a second at 03:44.
Ukrainian drones attack Sevastopol, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the night of April 23-24, 2023
Ukrainian drones attack Sevastopol, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the night of April 23-24, 2023
“The whole city was awakened by the explosions,” said one report.
Footage also showed Russian defenses countering incoming surface drones.
The Russian sources denied any damage to Vladimir Putin’s Black Sea Fleet or any other facilities.
Ukraine did not immediately respond.
However, Sevastopol – the headquarters of the Russian fleet – has regularly experienced drone strikes in recent months.
“Everything happened in the outer anchorage, no facilities were damaged,” Razvozhaev said.
Governor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev
Ukrainian drones attack Sevastopol, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the night of April 23-24, 2023
Ukrainian drones attack Sevastopol, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet on the night of April 23-24, 2023
“The city is quiet at the moment, but all troops and services remain on standby.”
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, passenger ferry traffic in the Black Sea port city had been suspended as a result of the drone strikes.
Sevastopol, along with the rest of the Crimean peninsula, was declared annexed by Russia in 2014, but is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine.
The wreckage of a suspected Ukrainian drone was found east of Moscow this morning, a sign of new danger for Russia.
It came when another military drone hit an oil depot in Rovenky, in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, causing an explosion.
Video showed flames pouring from the facility as firefighters battled the blaze.
While the separate drone crashed east of Moscow – near Noginsk, it is believed that it either flew over the capital or flew around the capital.
The crash site is about 52 kilometers east of the Kremlin.
Russian media share photos of a Ukrainian drone, filled with 17 kg of explosives, found some 52 miles east of Moscow
Russian media share photos of a Ukrainian drone, filled with 17 kg of explosives, found some 52 miles east of Moscow
The drone crashed near Noginsk, 52 kilometers east of Moscow
Although Moscow has not been hit by a Ukrainian airstrike so far in the war, there are fears that the city is vulnerable despite a massive deployment of air defenses.
The drone was discovered by a local woman, 35, who went into the woods to bury her dead kitten.
Police said it was filled with 17 kg of Canadian M112 explosive charges.
It is believed to be a Ukrainian UJ-22 drone.
Explosives experts worked at the site for five hours to secure the explosives, reports in Russia said today.
The drone was discovered by a local woman, 35, who went into the woods to bury her dead kitten
The location is closer to Moscow than any previously revealed Ukrainian attack drone
The location is closer to Moscow than any previously revealed Ukrainian attack drone.
It appears to have evaded the capital’s air defences, which have been massively reinforced in recent weeks.
According to Russian sources, the drone may have crashed between trees after running out of fuel.
Ukrainian drone hits an oil base in Rovenky, occupied Ukraine
Ukrainian drone hits an oil base in Rovenky, occupied Ukraine
The supposed flight path and target of the drone were unclear.
Moscow is about 450 kilometers from the nearest point in Ukraine in a straight line.
Elsewhere, Russia’s border region of Belgorod reported at least four drone strikes on its territory yesterday.
One person was injured in one of the attacks.