Russia claims drone attack by Ukraine in Crimea foiled

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow said Sunday it has foiled a drone attack allegedly carried out by Ukraine in Crimea, a region Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

“This morning, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two unmanned semi-submersible boats on targets in the territory of the Crimean peninsula near the city of Sevastopol was thwarted,” a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry read.

The statement claimed that two drones were destroyed by air defense systems over the Black Sea, while another five drones were “suppressed by means of electronic warfare.”

“Also in the northern part of the Black Sea, two crewless boats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were discovered and destroyed," the statement added.

No casualties were reported so far.

Ukrainian officials have not yet commented on the claim, and independent verification of Russia's claims is difficult due to the ongoing war.