Ukrainian airstrikes on military targets in occupied Crimea show Russians can no longer protect themselves – AFU spokesperson

As a result of the Ukrainian attack on military facilities in occupied Sevastopol on January 4, not only the Russian command center but also the air defense suffered serious damage.

Natalia Humenyuk, the spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, stated this during an interview on Suspilne Resistance, Rubryka reports.

"Not only one command center was hit; indeed, powerful military action took place over the past day, including causing serious damage to the air defense on the Crimean Peninsula," Humeniuk explained.

According to her, this is not the first damage that forced the occupiers to significantly reformat their defense.

"Currently, we observe the same hysteria with their movements again. They are trying to maneuver and relocate both their defense systems and the objects they protect in different locations," the spokesperson noted.

Humeniuk also mentioned that the Russian military recently relocated launch pads for Shahed drones. If they used to predominantly use Cape Chauda, several powerful previous attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces recorded launches from Balaklava.

"That's exactly where the Defense Forces were working to make the enemy not feel so safe in these territories and always remember that Crimea is Ukraine, and we are fighting for it," she said.

The spokesperson also believes that the explosions near the Crimean Bridge are more of a smoke screen, an "attempt to protect this unnecessary configurative object."

"Nevertheless, the concern and fear for its fate are not unfounded. Our military operations continue, and there are still many facilities there that we need to work on. If it is worthy of the announcement, we will definitely inform about every powerful result," Humeniuk noted.

She said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces officially confirmed the strike on the Russian command post near Sevastopol. Humeniuk believes that after this, the occupiers will start relocating again.

"This is evident because they have significant losses in the defense, considering that Crimea is such a hub for accumulating everything they are trying to throw later to support the front on the left bank of mainland Ukraine and the east. If they cannot defend, they will lose," said Humeniuk.

According to her, the explosions in Crimea confirm that the Russian occupiers can no longer protect their resources.

Earlier, Rubryka reported that on the evening of January 4, explosions rocked occupied Saki on the Crimean Peninsula, and Russian occupiers complained about another "attack." The head of the Russian occupation administration of Saki, Aleksandr Ovdiyenko, reported about an "attack" on the coast of Saki–Yevpatoria. Locals wrote on Telegram about attempts by the Black Sea Fleet to "repel the attack" near Sevastopol. Crimean online groups reported explosions in the area of the Kerch Strait, calling it "air defense work," and occupiers also blocked the Kerch Bridge.

On January 4, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted a successful operation in Crimea: explosions were reported in the occupied Sevastopol and Yevpatoria, and eyewitnesses posted videos of hits.

In turn, the Ukrainian Armed Forces also reported that around 3:00 p.m., they hit the command post of the Russian occupation forces near Sevastopol.

What we know about the destruction of Russian ships by the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Explosions are increasingly heard throughout occupied Crimea. Ukrainian defenders have already carried out dozens of operations on the peninsula and in the Black Sea, destroying Russian bases, warehouses, and ships.

In October 2022, the maritime drones of the Security Service of Ukraine attacked ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay, damaging, in particular, the frigate "Admiral Makarov."

In 2023, SBU drones damaged:

• Missile carrier "Samum"
• Missile carrier "Pavel Derzhavin"
• Tanker SIG,
• Amphibious ship "Olenegorskiy Gornyak"
• Damaged tugboat "Nikolay Mur"
• The modern reconnaissance-hydrographic ship "Vladimir Kozitsky."

In turn, the Chief of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could hit the enemy in any part of the temporarily occupied Crimea if necessary.