Ukraine has intensified its strikes on the temporarily occupied Crimea, where drone strikes and missile attacks seem to have become commonplace.
According to statements from the Ukrainian side, from August 23 to September 14, Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed two Russian S-400 "Triumph" air defense systems on the occupied peninsula: on August 23 near the village of Olenivka on Cape Tarkhankut, and on September 14, a similar installation was hit in the vicinity of Yevpatoriya. On September 20, a missile strike was carried out on a closed command post in the village of Verkhnesadove near Sevastopol, intended for managing the Black Sea Fleet in the event of a third world war. Importantly, this marked the first use of the Storm Shadow missile in this war, designed precisely for the destruction of underground structures. The missile consists of two parts: the first destroys concrete protection, and the second penetrates inside the structure and detonates. In the past, Storm Shadow missiles have targeted bunkers used by Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein. On the night of September 21, a large-scale artillery strike was launched against the "Saky" military airfield, where at least 12 combat aircraft (Su-24 and Su-30) and the "Pantsir" anti-aircraft missile system were stationed. This location also housed a base for training operators of the Mojaher UAVs.
And on September 22, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet Headquarters in Sevastopol. It was claimed that the strike on the headquarters occurred while the fleet's leadership was holding a meeting inside the building. Essentially, the fleet's headquarters is a highly significant structure that coordinates aviation, ground forces, naval vessels, and a repair base. Its tasks include gathering information, planning military operations, and coordinating activities. The strike on the Black Sea Fleet Headquarters will disrupt the command and coordination system among different types of Russian forces involved in combat operations against Ukraine. This system will be inoperative for some time, and it will take time to restore all its elements, including the personnel who were incapacitated.
It should be noted that Ukraine strictly adheres to international humanitarian law in conducting its military operations. Precision strikes exclusively target Russian military facilities, logistics, and depots, thereby destroying the enemy's military potential. The systematic destruction of Russian military facilities in Crimea is part of a step-by-step strategy to dismantle the peninsula's defense.
Interestingly, the response on social media from local residents in Sevastopol indicates that they, too, are celebrating the successes of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, hoping for a swift de-occupation.
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