Ukraine strikes Crimean naval port of Sevastopol
Explosions rocked occupied Crimea overnight as Ukrainian sources claimed a “joint special operation” underway between Kyiv's intelligence agency - the GUR - and the Navy.
The Suspline news agency, quoting residents in Sevastopol, said explosions and gunfire were heard around 8.15pm local time.
One resident told the outlet: “There were three loud explosions and several quiet ones. An acquaintance wrote that the explosions were in the south of the city in the direction of Cape Fiolent.”
The Russian 26th Marine Radio Engineering Unit is based at the cape which boasts 12 radar antennas.
The news agency quoted an intelligence official who claimed the explosions were a result of “a joint special operation of the GUR and the Navy”.
READ MORE: Ukraine fighting brutal 'WWI style war' as US won't let Kyiv 'attack into Russia
Ukraine stuck the Sevastopol shipyard just days ago in a huge blow to Russia's Black Sea fleet. (Image: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK)
Moscow denied that the operation was successful and claimed to have downed three Ukrainian drones over occupied Crimea.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said: “An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an aircraft-type UAV on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped.
“Two Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed over the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula by regular means of air defence.”
The ministry later reported that Russian air defences had destroyed another Ukrainian UAV around 9.30pm.
Don't miss...
Ukraine plans to sue EU countries over grain ban [REPORT]
Vladimir Putin blow as ￡27bn of equipment destroyed in Ukraine war [ANALYSIS]
Ex-head of Kherson 'kills himself' after being appointed at start of war [INSIGHT]
The unverified report does not make it clear what Kyiv’s forces were attacking or whether they were successful but Sevastopol is home to the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
Last week, Ukrainian strikes targeted the drydock in the city reportedly damaging two Russian ships and injuring 24 people.
An image shared by Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-appointed governor of Sevastopol, showed the shipyard engulfed in flames with smoke billowing over it.
The shipyard is of strategic importance as it is used to repair Russia’s Black Sea fleet.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
Images show ships in drydock - which appear damaged - following last week's strike. (Image: GETTY)
Trending
Last Monday, Ukraine claimed it had captured its forces had recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea that Russia seized in 2015.
Russia had used the platforms for electronic warfare equipment and to launch helicopters and Kyiv said capturing them would help in their fight to regain Crimea.
The peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014. Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to do all he could to retake Crimea.
Follow our social media accounts here on http://facebook.com/ExpressUSNews and ExpressUSNews
Related articles Staggering ￡340m of Russia military hardware taken out by Ukraine in Crimea British Storm Shadow missiles 'used in strike which destroyed Russian submarine Musk ignores claims he has enabled Putin after blaming Biden Putin humiliated as huge explosions hit Crimea for second night in a row Humiliated Putin 'downplaying Crimea attack' as Ukraine destroys key weapons