Russia has stopped launching drones from Crimea due to considerations about the vulnerability of annexed regions, according to British defense officials.
In its update, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) noted how Russia has stepped up its crusade of far-reaching moves into Ukrainian infrastructure. These were basically introduced air and sea missiles as well as Iranian-supplied unmanned aerial cars (UAVs). called “suicide drones. “
While in the past they were introduced inside Crimea, their places of liberation have now been moved to the Krasnodar region of southern Russia, according to Saturday’s assessment.
This location replacement “is likely due to Russian considerations about Crimea’s vulnerability” and also “convenient for resupply from the most likely point of arms arrival in Russia, in Astrakhan. “
Ukrainian reports of explosions in Bakhchysarai in Crimea on Friday night, while the peninsula has been the scene of explosions in recent months that have rocked Russian army installations in the annexed province.
(4/4) The replacement of the launch is likely due to Russian considerations about the vulnerability of Crimea, while it is also suitable for resupply from the most likely point of arrival of weapons to Russia, Astrakhan.
These come with explosions at the Saki airbase on the western component of the peninsula in August and the high-profile attack in October on the Kerch bridge connecting Crimea with Russian Krasnodar territory.
The latest British assessment comes as Russian forces on Friday carried out their ninth large-scale missile crusade against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which included one of the largest attacks on Kyiv to date.
Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said Ukrainian air defenses shot down 60 of Russia’s missiles.
One and a half-year-old child among four others were killed in an attack in Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipro region, the region’s governor, Valentyn Reznichenko, said.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Friday that the missile crusade was aimed at provoking “social discontent in the capital” but “is unlikely to break Ukrainian will. “
On Friday, Ukraine’s state-owned electricity operator Ukrenergo said the measures could delay the recovery of electricity and announced a state of emergency for electricity market suppliers.
Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, explosions were heard in the southern city of Odessa where two Russian Oniks-type missiles were shot down, according to Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Odessa regional military administration.
However, ISW noted that while the movements pose a risk to Ukrainian civilians, “they do not have the ability of Russian forces to carry out offensive operations in Ukraine. “
On Friday, Vladimir Putin held assemblies with his army commanders to discuss Russia’s strategy in Ukraine. The Kremlin released video footage of the Russian leader presiding over the assembly along with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Defense Ministry for comment.
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