Russia Thwarts Coordinated Ukrainian Attack on Crimea, Moscow Disrupted by Drone Strikes
September 17, 2022
Russia announced on Sunday that it successfully foiled a coordinated attack on the Crimean peninsula by Ukrainian forces. Simultaneously, drones targeted Moscow, leading to disruptions in air traffic and causing a fire at an oil depot in southwestern Russia.
The recent escalation of violence has seen Ukraine launching multiple strikes on Russian military targets in occupied Crimea and the facilities of the Russian Navy Black Sea Fleet. These attacks aim to undermine Moscow’s war efforts in this critical region.
Moscow has also reported an increase in attacks deep inside Russia, far from the front lines. Sergey Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, revealed that at least two drones were shot down in the capital region early on Sunday. However, there were no reports of casualties or damage caused by the drone debris.
Although Reuters could not independently verify these reports, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s Security Council, expressed the urgent need for the delivery of weapons from Kyiv’s allies to bring an end to the ongoing war. Danilov stated that eliminating the Russian Black Sea Fleet, among other measures, would significantly accelerate Russia’s search for a way out of the conflict.
The Russian defense ministry announced that their air defense systems had destroyed at least six drones targeting Crimea from different directions. The ministry did not provide any information regarding possible damage or casualties resulting from the attack.
In Moscow, two drones were destroyed, one in the Istra district and another in the Ramensky district, according to Mayor Sobyanin. He assured the public that there were no casualties or damage caused by the drone debris.
The drone strikes in Moscow led to the delay of at least 30 flights and the cancellation of six at major airports. Aviation authorities frequently take these precautionary measures during drone attacks.
In southwestern Russia, a Ukrainian drone damaged an oil depot, resulting in a fire at a fuel tank. The regional governor, Andrei Klychkov, confirmed that there were no casualties and that emergency services were working on-site to control the situation. It is unclear whether the oil depot was directly targeted by the drone or if it was hit by debris.
The tension between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with both sides accusing each other of aggression. The international community closely monitors these developments and urges for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by David Gregorio, Kim Coghill, and William Mallard