Drones attack occupied Crimea: explosions reported in Krasnoperekopsk

On Thursday night, air defense systems were reportedly active in occupied Crimea. The Russian Ministry of Defense claims that two drones were allegedly downed. 

Explosions were also reported in the northern part of occupied Crimea, near Krasnoperekopsk, during the night of December 28, Rubryka reports, citing the Telegram channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense and "Crimean Wind."

The Russian defense department, as usual, blames Ukraine for the drone attack, stating that the drones were of an aircraft type.

According to their statement, "two Ukrainian UAVs were destroyed" over the territory of Crimea with air defense systems during the night.

The specific location of the air defense activity against the drones and the consequences of the events are not clarified.

Earlier in the late evening on Wednesday and Thursday night, there were reports on social media about a series of explosions, first in Sevastopol and later in Krasnoperekopsk.

In Krasnoperekopsk, a series of explosions occurred at around 1 am. Reports mentioned four explosions happening one after another.

However, there is currently no information about the cause of these nighttime explosions or potential consequences in that area. The occupying "administration" representatives do not provide any explanations for the incidents.

Around half-past midnight, there were reports of explosions in the occupied Sevastopol near the bay. Telegram channels mentioned four to five explosions.

According to Crimean Telegram channels, at least four explosions were heard in Sevastopol. Meanwhile, "Crimean Wind" notes that there were five explosions.

Online sources also report on the actions of the Russian occupiers' air defense forces.

However, a representative of the Sevastopol "administration" claims that it was an attack by a drone. According to Razvozhayev, air defense systems supposedly shot down one drone. He does not provide any explanation for other explosion sounds in the city.

A blogger in his Telegram channel writes that there is allegedly no damage to infrastructure in Sevastopol due to the incident. According to him, based on preliminary information, the air defense system was activated over the sea in Sevastopol, and one UAV was destroyed.

At 00:34, the Russians announced the closure of the Crimean Bridge. At 00:53, the bridge was reopened for traffic.

The day before, a large convoy of grain trucks was observed on the Feodosia bypass road after an attack on the port of Feodosia. The truck convoy was heading towards Kerch.

Russia was loading grain onto vessels under foreign flags through the Feodosia seaport.

According to investigative journalists, Russia was exporting grain from the occupied Ukrainian territories through the Feodosia port.

The Russian government publicly confirmed that it was exporting Ukrainian grain from the occupied territories to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The Russian head of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, acknowledged that Russia was selling Ukrainian grain. However, later, he claimed that no grain was being loaded in Crimean ports for direct shipments abroad.

What we know about the attack on the port in occupied Feodosia

On December 26, the Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked a large landing ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the "Novocherkassk," in the occupied port of Feodosia.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the ship was destroyed by Ukrainian aviation's guided missiles.

Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat stated that Russian occupiers would no longer be able to use the "Novocherkassk" landing ship attacked by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

The UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps, in light of the destruction of the Russian ship, noted that this event contradicts claims of a supposed "deadlock" in the war in Ukraine.

According to unconfirmed information, the ship at the time of the attack could have been loaded with Shahed drones Russia uses to attack Ukraine.

In turn, Natalia Humeniuk, the head of the Joint Coordinating Press Center of the Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces, suggested that another ship in Feodosia might have been damaged.

The first satellite images show the destroyed "Novocherkassk." If one looks at the photo, another vessel partially sank due to the impact.

After the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the large landing ship "Novocherkassk," 33 Russian sailors are considered missing.