Military facilities in Crimea under continuous attack; Analysts say may prompt Russian redeployment

Analysts suggest that the explosions and attacks on Russian military facilities have raised tensions in Crimea. The situation they say could prompt a redeployment of Russian forces, which are currently concentrating on eastern and southern frontlines.

Local leaders in Crimea say the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet was targeted on Saturday by a drone that was shot down. The Ukrainian government has made no comment about the attack.

The British Defence Ministry said on Saturday, “Increasingly frequent explosions behind Russian lines are probably stressing Russian logistics and air basing in the south.”

The US Institute for the Study of War said on Saturday that Russian officials in Crimea are likely considering strengthening security on the peninsula following the attacks on Russian military infrastructure. It added that Russia may draw its security forces away from the frontlines.

Russian military facilities continue to come under attack on the Crimean Peninsula, the southern Ukrainian region that Russia unilaterally annexed eight years ago.

The Russian-appointed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, spoke on Saturday about a drone attack on the headquarters of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet. He said the drone was shot down above the headquarters building.

The assault comes after massive explosions at a Russian air base in Crimea on August 9.

The Reuters news agency on Friday quoted a Western official as saying that the blasts have put more than half of the Black Sea Fleet’s combat jets out of operation. Reuters said it could not confirm battlefield reports independently.

Russian major newspaper Kommersant reported on Friday that Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov was newly appointed the fleet’s commander.

The British defense ministry earlier said in its intelligence update that his predecessor had “likely been suspended” following the sinking of the fleet’s flagship, Moskva, in April.

The ministry also said on Tuesday that the Black Sea Fleet is “struggling to exercise effective sea control.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday expressed his resolve to win Crimea back.

In a video address, he said that one “can literally feel in the air of Crimea that the occupation there is temporary.”

He called on Ukrainians to “stay together” and “help each other” for victory, noting that Wednesday will mark six months since the Russian invasion began.

Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said on Saturday that its forces attacked the eastern region of Kharkiv, killing more than 230 soldiers.

Russian media outlets are quoting a spokesperson as saying that the fatalities include up to 20 American mercenaries.

LENS, wire report