Ukraine struck Russian air defence systems near the town of Yevpatoriya in the west of occupied Crimea in a long-range overnight attack on Thursday, the Ukrainian military said.
Russia’s defence ministry said in a statement that its air defences had shot down 11 drones overnight over the peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014. It made no mention of any damage.
A video circulated on social media showed powerful explosions and a plume of smoke rising in the night sky illuminated by a blaze. Reuters could not immediately verify the video.
A Ukrainian intelligence source told Reuters the attack destroyed a “Triumf” air defence system in a joint operation of the Security Service of Ukraine and navy.
Anyone who thought this war would be over in a matter of weeks or even months was living in fantasy land. It’s going to be a long haul conflict, neither side is going to give up. Eastern Ukraine has been a conflict zone since 2014 and it will probably remain that way for many more years.