Russian forces announced on Saturday that they had shot down two Ukrainian missiles over the bridge connecting the Crimean peninsula to Russia.
“Air defense forces shot down two enemy missiles over the Kerch Strait. The Crimean bridge was not damaged,” Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian governor of the Crimean peninsula, said on social media, calling on locals to calm down.
Images released on social media show columns of smoke rising near the bridge, but there is no news of any damage to the bridge as of yet.
The Russian Defense Ministry further claimed that the regime in Kiev attempted to hit the Crimean Bridge with an S-200 guided anti-aircraft missile.
The missile was detected and intercepted by Russian air defense systems, the ministry said, adding there were no casualties or damage.
On Saturday, Russia also defended that its forces shot down 20 unmanned Ukrainian drones near the Crimean peninsula, where Kiev has stepped up attacks. Fourteen of the drones were shot down by air defense systems and another six by electronic devices.
and special hit this summer in Crimea: swimming with a view of a burning Kerch bridge! pic.twitter.com/nfkU9x6YXR
Margo Gontar (@MargoGontar) August 12, 2023
Annexed by Russia in 2014, Crimea was targeted by Kiev during Moscow’s offensive against Ukraine, but has been the target of more intense and increasing attacks in recent weeks.
Kiev has repeatedly said it intends to take back Crimea and is also targeting the Crimean Bridge, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s favorite projects.
Source: DN
