Ukrainian Strike on Crimea Prompts Evacuations, Targets Russian Logistics

DNIPRO, Ukraine—Ukraine launched a fresh attack on the Russian-occupied peninsula of Crimea, striking an ammunition depot, as Kyiv continues efforts to disrupt Russia’s ability to defend against Ukraine’s offensive in the east and south.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, said that there were multiple detonations at the facility in the central Krasnogvardeysky district on Saturday morning.

He said there was no damage or civilian casualties, but residents within a three-mile radius of the depot would be evacuated and housed in temporary accommodation while emergency services work to deal with the consequences of the attack. Rail traffic in the peninsula had also been suspended to “minimize risks,” Aksyonov said. The Russian military has relied heavily on rail to move its men and munitions toward the front.

The Ukrainian armed forces confirmed they had struck an oil depot and a storage facility for the Russian military in Krasnogvardeysky, sharing footage showing a vast plume of smoke rising above the area. They didn’t say what weapons were used in the strikes.

Crimea has been the target of regular Ukrainian attacks in recent weeks as Kyiv steps up pressure on Russian occupying forces and continues its grinding offensive to retake land. Disrupting routes that are crucial for Russia to keep soldiers on the front lines equipped is part of a Ukrainian strategy of attrition accompanying a parallel push by ground forces to break through robust Russian defenses in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions.

On Monday, a Ukrainian strike disabled the Crimean bridge that functions as the only road connection between Russia and the peninsula. It was the second time the bridge, a major symbol of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to entrench Russia’s occupation in parts of Ukraine, was hit.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said that it would likely take until mid-September to restore partial two-way cargo traffic on the bridge, and until November to fully rebuild the 12-mile-long structure.

Vehicle traffic has been regularly suspended on the bridge since the attacks, and on Saturday it was paused on two occasions, according to state media, as authorities assess the damage from the latest attacks.

The Ukrainian strikes on Crimea come as Russia continues its own missile barrages against targets across Ukraine. Authorities in 11 Ukrainian regions reported drone and missile attacks on Saturday. Two people died in northern Chernihiv region after Russia launched four cruise missiles at civilian areas, authorities there said.

Separately, four journalists working for Russian state news outlets were wounded after coming under Ukrainian artillery fire on Saturday near the southeastern village of Pyatykhatky, which was recaptured by Ukrainian forces last month.

Rostislav Zhuravlev, a reporter for RIA Novosti, later died from his injuries, the Russian Defense Ministry said. The three other reporters were in the hospital in stable condition, the ministry said.

Write to Matthew Luxmoore at [email protected]