Ukraine: Forces recapture Boyko towers in the Black Sea

       Ukraine has recaptured oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of Crimea, footage has purported to show, amounting to a major victory against Russian forces hundreds of miles behind the front line.

       The operation was carried out by Ukraine’s military intelligence arm of the ministry of the defence, known as the GUR.

       A 13-minute video detailing the attack showed the soldiers arriving on the oil rigs via a small motorboat.

       The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, who posted the video, claimed that the soldiers also seized a “stock of helicopter ammunition” and a NEVA radar system that tracks the movement of ships in the Black Sea.

       They also claimed that the Ukrainian fighters damaged a Russian Su-30 fighter jet in the battle for the Boika Towers. Footage contained within the video they posted shows Ukrianians firing at a fighter jet above them.

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       Ukrainian special services units hold a flag atop one of the Boika towers (Image: TELEGRAM )

       Russia occupied the Boika Towers following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and have allegedly been using them as military outposts ever since.

       Ukrainian intelligence claim the drilling platforms have been used by Russia as landing pads for their military helicopters, as well as a way of monitoring the movement of ships in the Black Sea.

       These positions may have been vital in Russia’s ongoing effort to black the Black Sea in light of their withdrawal from the United Nations-brokered grain deal with Ukraine.

       Four of the drilling platforms were recaptured in the early morning attack, according to the statement issued on Telegram.

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       The intelligence briefing claimed the drilling platforms "Petro Godovalets" and "Ukraine", as well as SPBU "Tavrida" and SPBU "Syvash", were “returned to the control” of Ukraine.

       Footage of the attack purported to show Ukrainians landing on multiple platforms on the Black Sea and reclaiming them relatively unchallenged.

       A battle between some of the soldiers and what was alleged to be a Russian Su-30 fighter was briefly shown between two platforms.

       Both official and unofficial Russian sources have yet to comment on the claimed liberation.

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