Occupied Crimean city of Kerch rocked by explosions: reports suggest small Russian missile ship was hit

On Saturday evening, November 4, explosions rang out in the occupied city of Kerch. 

The Russian-appointed governor, Sergey Aksyonov, claimed that air defense was activated to down the threat, Rubryka reports.

As reported by the Crimean Telegram channels, there was an impact at the shipbuilding plant in Kerch.

Meanwhile, Aksyonov claimed that fragments of downed missiles fell on the territory of the dry dock.

"In the area of the shipbuilding plant in Kerch, an anti-aircraft missile fired to down the rockets. Part of the fragments of the downed missiles fell on the territory of one of the dry docks. There are no victims," Aksyonov claimed.

According to local media, a column of smoke is rising above the plant. Fire engines, ambulances, and trucks with Russian military troops have rushed in that direction.

Hromadske reports that Ukrainian intelligence sources confirmed to them there was a hit in Kerch following the explosions in Crimea. 

"There is a hit. The information is being clarified," said the sources, without revealing details.

Rubryka reported that the explosions happened in the area of the shipbuilding plant named after Butoma. It is one of the largest shipbuilding enterprises in Eastern Europe. The plant is known as a builder of military frigates. According to "Krym. Realii", in 2020, the plant started building aircraft carriers for the Russian fleet.

Explosions in occupied Crimea

Since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the Russian aggressors have been using the occupied Crimea for their military purposes. Across the peninsula, the Russians forces transfer weapons and troops to the front line.

However, lately, it has become dangerous for Russians to stay in Crimea. The Ukrainian forces attack military bases, warehouses, airfields, and even bays where Russian ships are stationed. A vivid example was the attack by the Ukrainian Forces on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

On Wednesday, November 1, the Russian occupiers reported a missile attack on the territory of the Crimean peninsula. Eyewitnesses reported damage to the Russian military bases.

Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, said that there were no safe places for the Russian occupiers in Crimea.  The pressure exerted by the Defense Forces of Ukraine makes it difficult to use the Crimean peninsula as a logistics hub.

On the morning of November 2, a powerful explosion rang out in the area of the city of Dzhankoi in the occupied Crimea.