Ukraine claims Russian air defence system destroyed in Crimea

Ukraine has successfully destroyed a Russian air defense system in the area of Crimea that Russia has taken control of, according to information received by the BBC.

The security service and navy of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, carried out an attack on a Russian military site near Yevpatoriya using cruise missiles, according to a source from Ukrainian intelligence that spoke to the BBC.

People on social media shared videos that showed a fire and smoke in a place called Yevpatoriya, which is located in the western part of a peninsula that Russia has control over.

Moscow has not said anything about the attack so far.

However, the Russian defense ministry stated on Wednesday that they had destroyed multiple Ukrainian flying robots and prevented another attempt to harm a naval patrol ship.

There were some explosions reported in Crimea, which Russia took over unlawfully in 2014, earlier on Thursday.

According to a source from the BBC who knows a lot, the Ukrainian operation used drones to attack a Russian radar. Then, they used cruise missiles to attack missile launchers that protect against attacks from the air.

The drones targeted the devices that protect against air attacks and the devices that detect enemy planes. After turning off the radar stations, the Navy groups attacked the S300 and S400 ‘Triumph’ systems, which are valued at $1. 2 billion, using two Neptune cruise missiles,” the person said.

No information was given about how many batteries were focused on.

Ukrainian news sources said that there were explosions and smoke near a military base at around 5:40 am local time. Local residents reported this. Some videos have been posted on social media.

Russia’s defense department said that they shot down 11 flying drones over Crimea, but they don’t think the attack was very significant.

Local officials that Russia chose have not said that they found any problems with the military place or the systems that protect from attacks in the air.

The S400 air defence system from Russia started being used in 2007, and it is a newer and improved version of the S300 that has been used since 1978.

There are different types of these systems, but the most advanced one has the longest reach and can go up to 400km (249 miles) in distance, says the Russian Defence Ministry.

The S400 is able to destroy both manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as ballistic missiles.

It seems that Ukraine is increasing the number of attacks on the forces that have taken control of Crimea.

The attack happened after a big attack on the port of Sevastopol, where Ukraine says two Russian naval ships were badly damaged.

Russian officials said that 10 missiles were used in the attack and it caused 24 people to get hurt. Ukraine used missiles to show that they are using more long-range weapons, some of which they made in their own country.

The Ukrainian military said they are now using their own made Neptune cruise missiles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s finance ministry announced that the country will receive $1. 25 billion (around £1 billion) from the United States for the World Bank’s PEACE in Ukraine project.

Officials stated that the money would be used for things that are not related to the military. It would be given to people who are in need and used to provide education and medical help.