- A teenage girl has been killed in a drone strike in Crimea, Moscow has blamed Ukraine for the strike but Ukraine has not immediately reacted to Russia’s claims.
- The occupied territory has seen multiple attacks this week.
- Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014
- Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine’s south overnight, sending missiles toward both Mykolaiv and Odesa.
- The US has claimed Russian forces have laid sea mines in the Black Sea and are preparing for possible attacks on civilian ships in the region.
A teenage girl has been killed in a drone strike in Crimea, the Russian-installed head of the occupied territory has said. Moscow has blamed Ukraine for the strike, which it said damaged four administration buildings.
Sergei Aksyonov said the attack took place in the northwestern part of Crimea and that emergency services are working there. “Unfortunately, there were victims. A teenage girl was killed. I express my sincere and deep condolences to her family and friends. All necessary support will be provided to the family.” Mr. Aksyonov said.
Ukraine has not immediately reacted to Russia’s claims.
For the fourth day in a row, an overnight incident has been reported in Crimea. One person was killed and four administrative buildings were damaged by a Ukrainian drone strike, according to Russian news agency RIA, citing regional head Sergei Aksyonov. The attack took place in the northern part of the peninsula, Mr. Aksyonov said.
The occupied territory has seen multiple attacks this week. Yesterday, an explosion started a blaze at a Russian military base and forced the evacuation of 2,000 people nearby; The day before, Russia reported a Ukrainian drone attack on the peninsula; And on Monday, the Kerch Bridge linking Crimea with Russia was damaged in blasts that Russia blamed on Ukrainian sea drones.
Crimea has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Ukraine has made clear it plans to take back the territory and the peninsula has seen repeated attacks although Kyiv has rarely taken responsibility. Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine’s south overnight, sending missiles toward both Mykolaiv and Odesa. At least 18 people were injured in the strikes in Mykolaiv.
The US has claimed Russian forces have laid sea mines in the Black Sea and are preparing for possible attacks on civilian ships in the region. Firefighters have been battling a large fire in a residential building that was struck by a missile in Mykolaiv.
It follows Moscow’s withdrawal from a deal to allow the safe export of grain and its warning earlier that all ships heading to Ukraine would now be seen as potential carriers of military equipment. White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge told reporters: “Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
“We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks.” An estimated 60,000 tonnes of grain have been destroyed in airstrikes on Ukrainian ports in recent days.
(With inputs from agencies)
