Another Ukrainian missile was shot down in the Kerch Strait in the Black Sea on Saturday, according to an update from Russian-appointed Crimean chief Sergey Aksyonov.
“Another enemy missile was shot down over the Kerch Strait. Thank you to our air defense troops for your high professionalism and vigilance!” Aksyonov wrote on Telegram on Saturday.
Aksyonov said earlier that two Ukrainian missiles were shot down in the Kerch Strait on Saturday.
Photos and videos circulating on social media platforms showed white smoke billowing from the bridge. CNN has not independently verified the images.
3 hours ago
Policeman killed, others injured in bomb attack in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, authorities say
By Maria Kostenko
One person was killed and 12 wounded on Saturday when the southeastern Ukrainian city of Orikhiv was hit by a guided aerial bomb, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said in a statement posted on Telegram.
“The enemy hit Orikhiv with a guided aerial bomb this morning. A police officer was killed in an attack. 12 people were injured, including 4 policemen,” the minister said, adding that medics are fighting for the lives of the wounded, some in serious condition.
A little background: Located 60 kilometers southeast of the city of Zaporizhia, Orikhiv is on the front line of the Ukrainian counter-offensive. It is caught between kyiv troops advancing south and Russian forces trying to hold regional positions.
The city has come under heavy bombardment from Russian air raids with half-ton bombs landing frequently, sometimes 20 in as many minutes.
2 hours ago
Russia says it destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones over Crimea
By Maria Kostenko
Russian forces destroyed 20 Ukrainian drones launched into the Crimean peninsula overnight on Saturday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
There were no casualties or damage as a result of the attack, the ministry said on Telegram, adding that 14 drones were destroyed by air defenses and six were suppressed by electronic warfare equipment.
A bit of context: The incident comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in annexed Crimea and the Black Sea area.
Crimea has been regularly targeted by drones, including attacks on the bridges linking the peninsula to the mainland.
This month, Ukrainian maritime drones also attacked a major naval base in Russia, leaving a damaged Russian warship on the list, a brazen attack carried out hundreds of miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Hours later, a huge Russian tanker was attacked.
