Moscow, 30 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - The Ukrainian military said on Monday it had hit a Russian air defence base on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in an attack with naval drones and missiles.

A strategically important air defence object on the west coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, was "successfully fired upon," according to a press release issued by the armed forces.

Media reports suggest a position near the village of Olenivka was hit by US ATACMS missiles, injuring 17 soldiers and damaging five vehicles.

Moscow has not officially confirmed these reports. However, the Moscow-appointed governor of the port city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, posted on Telegram on Monday that forces of the Black Sea Fleet had beaten off a drone attack off the coast during the night.

In another attack around midday, eight Shadow Storm cruise missiles were intercepted over Crimea, the Russian Defence Ministry said on its Telegram channel.

According to Razvozhayev, two "objects" were intercepted over Sevastopol. A 57-year-old man was injured in the leg by falling debris.

Russia has been using Crimea as a supply base for its war against Ukraine, which it has been waging for more than 20 months. In recent weeks, Kiev has stepped up its attacks on military assets in Crimea.

Targets of successful attacks have included an important military shipyard, several naval vessels, and the base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which have all been severely damaged.

Photo: MIA archive