Russian proxies in Crimea claim drone attack on Sevastopol

On the night of July 16, several explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula. Several Russia-backed authorities claimed that local air defenses repelled a drone attack.

The strikes took place in the area of Sevastopol Bay and Balaklava.

No information on casualties or damages to the civilian or critical infrastructure is available at the moment.

Later, the information about the explosions in Sevastopol was confirmed by the Russian-appointed mayor of Sevastopol Mikhail Razvozhaev.

Air defense forces and the Navy are repelling an attack by enemy UAVs on Sevastopol over the sea near the city of Chersonese, in the area of Sevastopol Bay and Balaklava, Razvozhayev said.

Razvozhayev said that Sevastopol was attacked not only by air but also by sea drones.

Razvozhayev called the attack "massive and long-lasting." He claims that "no objects either in the city or in the water area were damaged."

The occupation authorities and Ukraine's military leadership have not yet commented on this information.

Previous explosions in Sevastopol

In recent months, the city has been rocked by occasional explosions. They are usually linked to attacks on Russian military clusters, their equipment, ammunition, or logistics facilities.

In their defense, the occupiers claim the explosions in the city's area result in work of air defense.

On March 22, explosions thundered in the city in the morning. Russian invaders complained about an attack by naval drones. Witnesses reported the raid in Sevastopol Bay was blocked after the explosions.

On April 29, a large-scale fire broke out in the Kozacha Bukhta neighborhood of Sevastopol, as a fuel tank caught fire. Russian proxies were quick to claim that a drone hit caused the fire.

On July 15, explosions were heard in the northern part of the temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Ukraine's intelligence member Andrii Yusov commented on the explosions in Sevastopol indicating that the liberation and de-occupation of Crimea is approaching.