Ukraine strikes oil depot in occupied Crimea

Ukraine’s military has launched a strike on a major oil terminal located off the coast of the occupied Crimean Peninsula, marking another significant move in a series of attacks aimed at Russian-controlled energy facilities. According to officials in Kyiv, missile forces targeted the Feodosia terminal, the largest oil processing facility in Crimea, during an overnight operation.

While Russian-installed officials in Crimea have not confirmed the details of the strike, they acknowledged that a fire broke out at the facility. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties from the blast. In response to the incident, a municipal emergency has been declared, leading to the evacuation of approximately 300 individuals from Feodosia due to the ongoing blaze. Footage shared on social media has shown plumes of smoke rising from the terminal, with local authorities reporting that firefighting efforts are underway.

In the midst of this strike, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that 12 Ukrainian drones were intercepted over Crimea out of a total of 21 launched by Ukraine. This comes amid heightened tensions and ongoing military confrontations between the two nations.

The Ukrainian general staff, in a statement regarding the attack, emphasized that oil products transported from the Feodosia terminal were being utilized to support the Russian occupation forces. This facility has been a target before; it was previously struck by a Ukrainian drone in March, highlighting the ongoing strategic focus of Ukraine’s military operations against Russian assets.

Kyiv has positioned these attacks on Russian energy facilities as justified retaliation for Moscow’s relentless strikes on Ukraine’s own energy infrastructure, which have resulted in significant disruptions. President Volodymyr Zelensky noted in June that Russian assaults have decimated at least 80% of Ukraine’s thermal power generation and about a third of its hydroelectric power capabilities, leaving millions in the dark.

The latest incident in Crimea coincides with reports from Kyiv indicating that Ukrainian air defense forces successfully shot down 32 drones and two missiles launched toward the capital by Russia. However, one Kinzhal missile managed to evade defenses, striking an area around the Starokostiantyniv airfield in the Khmelnytskyi region. This airfield has faced sustained attacks throughout the summer, with Russian claims suggesting it houses F-16 fighter jets supplied by Western nations.

Since US President Joe Biden authorized the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine in August 2023, NATO countries have pledged around 65 aircraft to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The first batch of these jets arrived earlier in the summer, and new deliveries are reportedly coming from the Netherlands.

In a separate incident in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, a Russian airstrike injured 17 people, including a two-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl. Regional head Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed that four bombs were dropped on the city, causing widespread concern and outrage among the local population.

As the conflict continues, both sides remain engaged in a fierce battle, with Ukraine striving to reclaim territories lost to Russian occupation since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. The recent strike on the Feodosia terminal is part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to disrupt Russian supply lines and military operations, signaling a determined effort to assert its sovereignty and resilience in the face of ongoing aggression.

The situation in the region remains fluid, with both military operations and civilian casualties contributing to the tragic human cost of this prolonged conflict. The international community watches closely, as developments unfold and both nations brace for the continuing repercussions of this war.