Drone attack on Crimea and Azov Sea repelled – Russian Defense Ministry
A Ukrainian attempt to launch overnight drone attacks against multiple Russian targets has been foiled, according to the defense ministry in Moscow. Russian air defenses downed 22 unmanned aerial vehicles while another 13 were intercepted over the Sea of Azov and the Republic of Crimea, the ministry reported.
Traffic on the main bridge linking Russia with the Crimean Peninsula was suspended early on Tuesday, the operator of the bridge wrote on Telegram. Drivers were asked to keep calm and follow the instructions of transport security officers.
The administration did not disclose the reason for the suspension.
Kiev has stepped up rocket and drone attacks on Crimea in recent months.
In October, several dozen Ukrainian drones were spotted and destroyed over the Black Sea and the northwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula, the Russian military said.
On September 13, Ukraine struck a shipyard in Sevastopol with cruise missiles, damaging two naval vessels, according to the Russian military. Nine days later, a missile struck the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.
Ukraine has also used sea drones to attack Russia's port infrastructure in Sevastopol on multiple occasions. Maritime drones targeted key transport infrastructure, including the 19km Crimean Bridge, which was badly damaged in an attack in July but was later repaired and fully reopened in October.
