The Air Force of Ukraine carried out a successful strike on the Saki Air Base on the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, Air Force Commander General Mykola Oleschuk said on Saturday.

the consequences of the Ukrainian attacks on the Saka air base, CrimeaPhoto: AFP / AFP / Profimedia

If confirmed, it would be the latest success after several strikes against Russian positions on the peninsula, illegally occupied by Moscow since 2014, The Kyiv Independent reports.

Ukrainian forces have recently stepped up their attacks in hopes of disrupting military logistics and weakening Russia’s defenses in the south.

According to General Oleshchuk, the strike successfully disabled the Russian command center.

“All targets destroyed!” he wrote in his Telegram channel.

“Once again, thanks to our pilots for their excellent work!”.

Local mass media reported on explosions on the Crimean peninsula on the night from Friday to Saturday. According to residents, up to 10 explosions were heard near the city of Yevpatoria. Also, the authorities imposed by Moscow would block traffic on the Kerch bridge.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had intercepted four Ukrainian guided missiles flying over the Crimean peninsula.

Saka Air Base is adjacent to the city of Novofedorivka, only about 20 kilometers southeast of Yevpatoria.

On Thursday, Ukraine said its air force launched an attack on a Russian command post near the occupied city of Sevastopol, more than 200 km from Kyiv-controlled territory, and hit a military unit in a separate attack on the Crimean peninsula. Reuters.

Some pro-Russian channels said more than 20 Russian soldiers, including 5 high-ranking and 9 commandos, were killed in Thursday’s attack, but these numbers have not been confirmed by Russian authorities.

The same channels complained that Russian air defenses on the Russian-occupied peninsula had been severely degraded, which would allow for more strikes of this type in the future.

The Ministry of Defense of Russia announced that air defense units shot down a total of 36 Ukrainian drones over the occupied peninsula.

Since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian army has several times attacked air bases on the Crimean peninsula, where Russian planes are stationed, which bomb, in particular, the south of Ukraine.